Palaiochori Central station

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Central Palaiochori Metro Palaiochori Suburban Rail
Terminus
Station statistics
Address 206 Vallas Way, Metaxas Park, Palaiochori
Levels 2
Platforms 20 ground-level (9 decommissioned, 11 operational)
18 underground
Parking yes
Bicycle facilities yes
Other information
Opened 1847
Electrified 25 kV 50 Hz
Station code PAK
Owned by Greater Palaiochori Authority
Services
Palaiochori Suburban Rail, Palaiochori Metro

Palaiochori Central station is a central Palaiochori railway terminus and a Palaiochori Metro station complex located in the central Palaiochori commune of Metaxas Park. It is one of three stations owned and operated by the Greater Palaiochori Authority (GPA). A railway station on the site was first opened in 1847, and the present building was completed in 1899. The station building is a Grade B listed heritage building.

With 25 million annual passengers, Palaiochori Central is the smallest central terminus station.

History[edit | edit source]

Palaiochori Central was built as the terminus for the Central Aetolian line trains in 1847. When the Palaiochori-Semasus line opened in 1852, the station also served those trains. Early suburban transit trains began using the station in 1903, with the completion of the A line allowing for a connection to Kallispolis. In 1935, the station became an early hub of the Palaiochori Metro, with the first underground platforms being built in 1936 and 6 platforms built by 1940. When the A line was converted to an underground metro line in 1949, suburban services using the station were stopped, although metro services increased. In 1952, mainline services were transferred to nearby Metaxas station, and the ground-level platforms were closed. In 1978, half of the station building was sold to a private developer and was converted into Palaiochori's first large scale shopping centre, Central Station Mall. Nine of the platforms were decommissioned and developed into a large open plaza area. An area of station land to the north was converted into a public park after being sold to the Palaiochori Unitary Authority (PUA). In 1982, the remaining station building and platforms were sold to the PUA, who then converted parts of the station into a public library. With the creation of the Palaiochori Suburban Rail network in 1985, Palaiochori Central was used as the central city terminus station for the network. Refurbishment work to the station building was completed in 1986, the same year 2 million passengers, using the suburban network, passed through the station.

In 1991, renovation work that would connect the station buildings to the metro station and the mall was begun. It ran into difficulties with the structural state of the existing building, triggering work to be stop and parts of the station to be closed off to the public. In January 1992, part of the roof over the main ticket hall collapsed while work was being done on the masonry below, killing 2 brick masons and injuring 4 others. During the investigation, it was found that an electrical fault had caused a fire that warped and weakened the roof's steel beams, causing them to shear apart when the masonry underneath was moved.

In February 1993, the station was completely reopened after being entirely renovated and restored. Electronic timetable boards and ticketing systems had been installed, as well as new turnstiles. There was a walkway to both the plaza area and the mall, as well as stairs and lifts to the metro platforms.

In June 2004, it was decided the station would receive another upgrade, this time to integrate the suburban and metro platforms more effectively. At the same time, the GPA had been transferred control and ownership of the metro platforms, which had been owned by SAK. The GPA had also purchased the Central Station Mall, which allowed for the station to expand into the mall's area. A new entrance was created for the metro platforms, the previous was at the opposite end of the mall from the station. The new entrance was built within the extended station, allowing for an easy transition from metro to suburban rail. New ticketing and information systems were also installed, and a new food court was constructed.

In October 2014, it was announced that the station would receive at 21 million drachma upgrade, which will include the building of four new platforms, a new retail balcony, improved ticketing machines and new turnstiles and security area. This means the loss of some of the open plaza area and several mall shop spaces, however the shop spaces will be replaced in the new upstairs retail balcony.

Routes[edit | edit source]

Preceding station   Palaiochori Suburban Rail no-text roundel.png Palaiochori Suburban Rail   Following station
TerminusPalaiochori – Stratos line
toward Patras
TerminusPalaiochori – Amboulos line
TerminusNorthern line
TerminusValley line
toward Semasus
TerminusPalaiochori – Kallispolis line
Preceding station   Palaiochori Metro no-text roundel.png Palaiochori Metro   Following station
City & Juktas line
toward King's Way
Kalamos & Akragas lineTerminus
TerminusZakros line
toward Vamnos
Central line
TerminusRizinia & Patras line
toward Rizinia West
TerminusAirport & Semasus line
Airport lineTerminus