STASY Launches €109M Athens Metro Train Modernisation

ATHENS, GREECE – STASY opened procurement for the complete modernisation of 12 first-generation six-car trains serving Athens Metro Lines 2 and 3, with an estimated budget of EUR 109 million excluding VAT. The contract, funded through the European “Transport 2021–2027” programme, covers 72 railcars and is expected to run 36 months from signature. Four of the 12 trainsets are currently out of service.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The contract covers the near-complete overhaul of 12 first-generation Athens Metro trainsets, totalling 72 railcars, including first-time installation of passenger air conditioning. Work will replace the old traction system with new-generation alternating current motors and power converters, modernise braking, control, fault-diagnosis, driver consoles and door-opening systems, and add dedicated wheelchair spaces. Worn-out or obsolete equipment will be replaced so the trains can operate for at least another 25 years, while STASY expects lighter, more reliable and more energy-efficient equipment to reduce maintenance.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

Athens’ EUR 109 million modernisation of 12 trainsets is smaller in fleet scope than Moscow’s rolling stock renewal plan, which targets over 90% fleet modernisation by 2030 across MCD-3 and MCD-4. Moscow’s MCD-3 and MCD-4 modernisation is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, according to operator announcements, while the Athens tender expects bidding to conclude only by the end of 2026 and the first refurbished train to return in 2028. CAF has already completed a fully modernised Athens Metro train for Line 1, but the current Line 2/3 tender does not publicly confirm that the same supplier will be used. A separate RailwayPRO headline refers to the trains as over 40 years old, while STASY states approximately 26 years in service; the tender documents do not explain this discrepancy. A detailed cost breakdown by subsystem and the EU co-financing share were not disclosed in the tender documents at time of publication. (Source: RailwayPRO, 2025)

Editor’s Analysis

STASY’s decision to modernise rather than replace 26-year-old trainsets reflects a life-extension strategy aimed at restoring fleet availability during a period of rising ridership; UIC reported a 7% increase in rail passenger traffic in 2024 compared with 2023. At roughly EUR 1.5 million per car, the programme is a lower-cost alternative to new rolling stock, but the staged delivery schedule leaves some non-air-conditioned trains in service for several more summer seasons. This procurement also signals that EU-backed rolling stock modernisation remains a priority for core urban networks in Southern Europe. (Source: UIC, 2025)

FAQ

Q: When will the first modernised Athens Metro train with air conditioning enter service?
A: STASY expects the first refurbished train equipped with air conditioning to return to service in 2028. The contract duration is 36 months from signature, with deliveries in stages.

Q: What is the estimated cost of the Athens Metro first-generation train modernisation?
A: The tender has an estimated budget of EUR 109 million excluding VAT, funded through the European “Transport 2021–2027” programme. It covers 12 six-car trainsets, or 72 railcars.

Q: Which Athens Metro trains currently lack passenger air conditioning?
A: The first-generation trains operating on Lines 2 and 3 are the only trains on the Athens Metro network that were not factory-fitted with air conditioning in passenger cars. Four of the 12 trainsets are currently out of service.