The Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis spoke to SKAI about the problems created in public transport due to heat, noting that some carriages on the ISAP suburban railway are newer and have air conditioning. As he explained, this doesn’t apply to trains from 1980 that lack air conditioning – in these, the air conditioning doesn’t work effectively because people open windows, given that the trains don’t run underground. Additionally, Mr. Kyranakis noted that on the Metro, on Lines 2 and 3, out of the 52 trains in operation, 32 have air conditioning.
Kyranakis: I personally commit that this is the last summer without air conditioning
“I personally commit that this is the last summer we experience this. First of all, it would be good to ask for an explanation from those who ordered metro trains without air conditioning. Because these weren’t ordered during the 4 months I’ve been at the ministry. They were ordered decades ago. So in Greece, someone had the brilliant idea to order trains worth millions without air conditioning. It would be good to demand an explanation from them at some point. We will proceed with train renovation measures. This means some trains will be taken off the network – this may affect frequency, I want to be clear. When you make a decision and say ‘I’ll remove a train to renovate it,’ because you have to make a decision and say ‘does it need air conditioning? Yes, it does.’ I have to take it out of operation, renovate it, change its mechanical systems and put it back. This will happen. On ISAP we have trains from 1980,” he said characteristically.
On the abolition of trolleybuses
Meanwhile, Mr. Kyranakis also referred to the upcoming abolition of trolleybuses, explaining that the planning included purchasing new vehicles, something that was reversed because the network (cables and poles) needs upgrading, which has increased costs.
After research and considering the existing situation, Mr. Kyranakis said the end of trolleybuses will be implemented in the following 2 phases:
-removal of cables and poles in Athens and Piraeus, except on major central roads like Syngrou Avenue, where services will be increased,
-purchase of new electric buses, which will replace the trolleybuses.
As Mr. Kyranakis emphasized, trolleybus workers will be absorbed into the bus system.
