Passenger rail transport in Greece is entering a new phase of development as Hellenic Train begins testing a new generation of electric and hybrid trains for the country’s main rail corridors.
The introduction of Alstom’s Coradia Stream electric trains and Hitachi Rail’s Blues Intercity hybrid trainsets forms part of an unprecedented investment programme backed by Italy and Greece to modernise rail services and make rail travel more attractive to passengers.
The new fleet is one of the key elements of the EUR 760 million railway agreement signed in 2025 between Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group) and the Greek Ministry of Transport. The agreement aims to restore Greece’s railway system to modern European standards.
Under the deal, Greece is investing more than EUR 400 million in upgrading railway infrastructure and rebuilding lines damaged by extreme weather events, while Italy is contributing EUR 360 million to modernise Hellenic Train’s operations, including the procurement of new trains, depot upgrades and maintenance facilities.
Coradia Stream and Blues Intercity to transform passenger services
One of the programme’s largest investments is the procurement of 23 Coradia Stream electric trains, manufactured by Alstom in Italy. The EUR 393 million contract also includes ten years of rolling stock maintenance. The trains will operate on both suburban and Intercity services, including the Athens–Thessaloniki corridor.
Eleven trainsets will be allocated to suburban services, while twelve will operate long-distance routes. Each six-car train offers up to 362 seats in the suburban configuration and 335 seats in the Intercity version. They are equipped with ERTMS Level 2, power sockets, modern passenger information systems, dedicated spaces for bicycles and prams, and digital technologies for passenger flow monitoring.
Hellenic Train has recently completed the certification tests required for the Coradia Stream fleet to enter service on the Greek railway network. Testing included operation at speeds of up to 160 km/h, compatibility with the national infrastructure, and verification of the ETCS and GSM-R systems. The next step is the submission of documentation to the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) for authorisation to enter commercial service.
At the same time, the operator is testing the first Blues Intercity hybrid trains, built by Hitachi Rail. The first unit has begun dynamic testing on the Thessaloniki–Larissa–Athens route, while the second train has already arrived in Greece from Hitachi Rail’s production facility in Italy.
The new hybrid trainsets provide 200 seats, have a maximum speed of 160 km/h, and reduce fuel consumption by up to 50% compared with conventional diesel trains, while also lowering carbon emissions and noise levels.
Investments aim to win back passengers
The fleet renewal comes as Hellenic Train seeks to improve public confidence in Greece’s railway system.
According to the latest passenger satisfaction survey for the first quarter of 2026, 49% of passengers said they were very or completely satisfied with their journey, 66% were satisfied with train cleanliness, while only 36% expressed satisfaction with punctuality. In addition, just 31% of respondents said they had a high level of confidence in railway safety and accident prevention.
Against this backdrop, the introduction of the new trains forms part of a broader modernisation strategy led by FS Group, which has owned Hellenic Train since acquiring the former TrainOSE in 2017 for EUR 45 million.
Today, Hellenic Train operates 274 passenger and freight services every day and manages a fleet of around 1,179 locomotives, passenger coaches and freight wagons.
The company’s long-term strategy focuses on investing in new rolling stock, digitalisation, modern maintenance facilities and enhanced rail services, supported by the bilateral agreement between Italy and Greece, regarded as one of the most significant railway modernisation programmes in Greece in recent decades.
Share on:
