CAF Delivers First Refurbished Train for Athens Metro Line 1

ATHENS, GREECE – The Greek Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport on 9 June 2026 announced the completion of the first fully refurbished train for Athens Metro Line 1, executed by Spanish manufacturer CAF. The unveiling took place at the STASY depot in Sepolia, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in attendance, marking the delivery of the initial unit from a €70 million contract signed in July 2022. The program covers 14 trains originally built between 1983 and 1985.

What Is the Full Scope of This Project?

The modernization contract, valued at €70 million, encompasses the complete overhaul of 14 six-car trains operating on Line 1, with the goal of adding 25 years to their service life. Refurbishment includes structural, mechanical, and passenger-facing upgrades, though detailed technical specifications were not publicly disclosed. Greek authorities stated that the renewed fleet will help increase transport capacity and cut peak-hour intervals to as little as five minutes, down from current headways. The project is part of a wider public transport transformation in Athens, which also includes 19 new-generation trains for Lines 2 and 3, as well as over 1,076 new buses already deployed and a target of 1,700 new buses within two years. STASY projects total metro train availability will rise from 40 in 2019 to 60 by 2027, enabling 3.5-minute intervals on Line 3.

Key Project Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Projects?

CAF has carried out comparable mid-life upgrades for other European metro systems. In 2021, the company completed the modernization of 24 trains for Madrid Metro Line 1 under a contract worth approximately €153 million, translating to roughly €6.4 million per train. The Athens program’s per-train cost of €5 million appears lower, though the scope of work may differ. (Source: CAF press releases, 2021) Meanwhile, the UK is advancing a £64 million (€75 million) tunnel upgrade on the Transpennine route, focusing on track lowering and electrification rather than rolling stock, illustrating the diversity of aging infrastructure challenges across Europe. The Athens investment aligns with a broader European surge in urban rail renewal, with the European Investment Bank reporting increased lending for metro fleet and infrastructure projects since 2020.

Editor’s Analysis

The completion of the first unit signals Greece’s reliance on European Recovery and Resilience Plan funds to modernize critical urban transport, with a total allocation of about €2.2 billion for sustainable mobility. By refurbishing older trains rather than replacing them, STASY manages to stretch public capital further while addressing immediate capacity demands. However, the absence of a disclosed completion timeline for the remaining 13 trains introduces schedule risk, especially as passenger numbers are expected to grow. Compared to cities like Madrid, which cycle through larger-scale fleet renewals over a decade, Athens is taking a phased, incremental path that may limit near-term service improvements but keeps long-term costs contained.

FAQ

Q: Will the modernized Line 1 trains have air conditioning?
A: Specific technical improvements were not disclosed by STASY or CAF. However, mid-life refurbishment programs typically replace HVAC systems, so air conditioning is very likely to be included.

Q: When will all 14 trains be delivered?
A: Greek authorities have not released a delivery schedule for the remaining 13 trains. The original contract was signed in July 2022, and the first unit was unveiled in June 2026.

Q: How much will train intervals improve on Line 1 after the modernization?
A: Authorities target peak-hour intervals of five minutes, down from current levels. Achieving this depends on completing the entire refurbishment program and deploying the expanded fleet of 60 trains network-wide by 2027.