Rail transport

Athens commuters are set for fresh travel disruptions on Wednesday and Friday due to two planned 24-hour strikes by workers on the Athens metro, tram and the Piraeus-Kifissia electric railway (ISAP).

The strikes will mean services on the metro, tram and ISAP are totally suspended on Wednesday and Friday though will operate normally on Thursday.

Fare dodging and repeated strikes and work stoppages by employees of the Greek transport system are costing the state millions in lost revenues.

Two more stations of the Athens metro will remain closed this weekend as part of ongoing work to install turnstiles throughout the system.

The stations that will be closed to the public on Saturday and Sunday are Ilioupoli (Line 2) and Agia Paraskevi (Line 3). Trains will pass through them without stops.

Athens commuters are set for major travel disruptions Thursday due to a strike by workers on the Athens metro, tram and the Piraeus-Kifissia electric railway (ISAP).

The first express train from the Turkish city of Istanbul arrived in Sofia on Tuesday after a nine-and-a-half-hour trip, reported Anadolu Agency.

The head of passenger service in Istanbul with Turkish State Railways commented that the state-of-the-art express train with four cars will run every day.

After announcing that they would be walking off the job on Thursday, workers on the Athens metro, ISAP railway and tram have said they will be holding two more 24-hour strikes next week.

Workers on the Athens metro, tram and the Piraeus-Kifissia electric railway (ISAP) will strike on Thursday to protest new legislation that will allow the Athens Public Transport Organization (OASA) to make commercial use of stations and areas belonging to STASY, the operator of the capital's fixed-track public transport system.

Turkey's Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication Minister Ahmet Arslan has announced that a new train line between Istanbul and Bulgaria's capital Sofia will start its journeys on Feb. 20, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Members of citizens' groups calling for free public transportation for all commuters held a demonstration on Saturday at an Athens metro station.

Protesters blocked the entrance to the Attiki station and placed black plastic bags over ticket dispensing and validating machines.

Workers at the Athens metro, the Piraeus-Kifissia electric railway (ISAP) and the tram will hold a work stoppage Friday from 12 noon to 3 p.m. to protest new legislation that will allow the Athens Public Transport Organization (OASA) to make commercial use of stations and areas belonging to STASY, the operator of the capital's fixed-track public transport system.