91999E0766

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0766/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 March 1999)

Subject: Athens-Thessaloniki rail link

The 2nd CSF provides for the construction of a new railway line between Tithoreas and Lianokladi (50 km) and the electrification of the Athens-Thessaloniki line, reducing the journey to 4 hours 20 minutes. The 2nd CSF is now coming to an end and there has been no real progress on either of these two projects. The journey between Athens and Thessaloniki still takes 6 hours and, at the present rate of progress, the 2nd CSF will not have met its targets even by the year 2006.

The Commission:

1. In it's view, what are the reasons for these delays?

2. How does it intend to intervene in this situation?

3. What does it envisage for the 3rd CSF, given the likelihood that the 2nd CSF will be eight years behind schedule in meeting its targets?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(5 May 1999)

It is true that, in the rail-transport sector in Greece, the principal objective of both the Community Support Framework (CSF) for 1994-99 and the Cohesion Fund is to carry out civil engineering, electrification and signalling work on the Athens-Thessaloniki line, with a view to reducing the journey time from 5h 50 in 1994 to 4h 20 around the year 2000.

Almost all the projects provided for under the Operational Programme (OP) for the rail network are currently under way, but only the minor ones are scheduled for completion by 2001. The major project involving construction of a new 50-kilometre line between Tithorea and Lianokladi and, in particular, the Kallidromo project, which is being part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, should be completed around 2005 according to the Greek authorities' latest estimates.

The construction of the new Evangelismos-Leptokaria line and the electrification of the entire Athens-Thessaloniki line, which are being part-financed by the Cohesion Fund, are expected to be completed in 2004-05. Consequently, the objective of reducing the journey time between Athens and Thessaloniki, which chiefly depends on the completion of the Kallidromo project and the electrification process, will not be achieved in 2000.

This delay is mainly due to the slowness of the process of setting up Ergose and the length of time taken for it actually to become operational (approximately 3 and 4 years respectively after the launch of the OP), as well as an accumulation of failings at the time when it was set up.

The Commission will very soon begin discussions with the Greek authorities concerning the problems and prospects of rail projects part-financed by Community Funds in Greece. These discussions will cover both the CSF for the current programming period and the preparation of the next period (2000-06).