Rapsani railway station explained

Name El:Ραψάνη
Rapsani
Mode:TS
Line:TS
Address:Rapsani
Borough:Larissa
Country:Greece
Coordinates:39.8997°N 22.6147°W
Line: Piraeus–Platy railway[1]
Train Operators:Hellenic Train
Structure:at-grade
Levels:1
Platform:2
Tracks:2
Parking:Yes
Opened:1916
Electrified:25 kV AC, 50 Hz
Owned:GAIAOSE[2]
Former:Pyrgetos
Original:Evangelismos-Tempi-Rapsani railway
Web:http://www.ose.gr/en/
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:14
Map Type:Greece
Map Dot Label:Rapsani

Rapsani railway station (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Σιδηροδρομικός σταθμός Ραψάνης|Sidirodromikos stathmos Ραψάνη) is a railway station near the village of Rapsani, Thessaly, Greece.It is located about 5km (03miles) from the center of Rapsani, the station sits in the shadow of Mount Ossa. Reopened on 7 September 2008. The station is served by both fast Regional trains and Proastiakos to Thessaloniki. Intercity services pass through the station, but do not call at it. The station was formerly called Pyrgetos station because of the small village close to the station.[3]

History

The station originally open in 1916 as part of Evangelismos-Tempi-Rapsani railway, the station building dates from this period. In 1970 OSE became the legal successor to the SEK, taking over responsibilities for most of Greece's rail infrastructure. On 1 January 1971 the station, and most of Greek rail infrastructure where transferred to the Hellenic Railways Organisation S.A., a state-owned corporation. Freight traffic declined sharply when the state-imposed monopoly of OSE for the transport of agricultural products and fertilisers ended in the early 1990s. Many small stations of the network with little passenger traffic were closed down.

In 2001 the infrastructure element of OSE was created, known as GAIAOSE, it would henceforth be responsible for the maintenance, of stations, bridges and other elements of the network, as well as the leasing and the sale of railway assists.[4] In 2003, OSE launched "Proastiakos SA", as a subsidiary to serve the operation of the suburban network in the urban complex of Athens during the 2004 Olympic Games. In 2004 the station and the line closed as part of the upgrades to the Piraeus–Platy Line. Rapsani, and a small section of the Evangelismos-Tempi-Rapsani Line was retained.

In 2005, TrainOSE was created as a brand within OSE to concentrate on rail services and passenger interface. Rapsani station reopened on 7 September 2008, as part of the rollout of Proastiakos services. In 2008, all Proastiakos were transferred from OSE to TrainOSE. Since 2008, the station is served by the Proastiakos Thessaloniki services to New Railway Station. In 2009, with the Greek debt crisis unfolding OSE's Management was forced to reduce services across the network. Timetables were cutback and routes closed, as the government-run entity attempted to reduce overheads. In 2017 OSE's passenger transport sector was privatised as TrainOSE, currently, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane[5] infrastructure, including stations, remained under the control of OSE.

In November 2023, rail services resumed between Rapsani and Larissa after a devastating storm in September[6] damaged sections of track across the region.[7] However services between Larissa and Volos remain suspended across Thessaly’s coast until the track is repaired.

Facilities

The station is staffed, with a working Booking office (as of 2019) and waiting rooms. There are toilets. The platforms can be reached by a raised walkway accessed by stairs or lifts.

Services

Proastiakos

See main article: Proastiakos Thessaloniki.

The station is served the following lines of the Thessaloniki Proastiakos or suburban railway:

[8] Thessaloniki - Larissa[9] with 1 tph. (transfer to Regional, Express & InterCity services at Larissa).[10]

National train services

The station is served the following Hellenic Train services:

Accidents and incidents

See main article: Tempi train crash.

On 28 February 2023, a passenger train and a freight train collided 10.9km (06.8miles) south of the station, resulting in the deaths of at least 42 people and injuring dozens,[11] [12] [13] making it the signal deadliest railway accident on record in Greece.[14] [11] 50 to 60 people are currently unaccounted for following the crash.[15]

Station layout

L
Ground/Concourse
Customer serviceTickets/Exits
Level
L1
Side platform, doors will open on the right
Platform 1---->">Π1 towards (Neoi Poroi)
Platform 2---->">Π1 towards (terminus)
Side platform, doors will open on the right

Notes and References

  1. Web site: OSE - 2020 Network Statement Annexes .
  2. Web site: Home . gaiaose.com.
  3. Zisis Protopapas: The Larissa Railway, pp.3
  4. Web site: Home . gaiaose.com.
  5. Web site: It's a new day for TRAINOSE as FS acquires the entirety of the company's shares . ypodomes.com. 14 September 2017.
  6. News: Restoring Thessaly railroad to take at least two years, minister says eKathimerini.com . 24 March 2024 . www.ekathimerini.com . kathimerini.com . 30 October 2023 . English.
  7. News: Train service from Larissa to Rapsani to resume eKathimerini.com . 24 March 2024 . www.ekathimerini.com . kathimerini.com . 6 November 2023 . English.
  8. http://www.trainose.gr/επιβατικό-έργο/υπηρεσίες-για-τον-επιβάτη/υπηρεσίες-στο-σταθμό/ επιβατικό έργο
  9. http://www.trainose.gr/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/%CE%91%CE%98%CE%97%CE%9D%CE%91-%CE%A7%CE%91%CE%9B%CE%9A%CE%99%CE%94%CE%91-%CE%93%CE%99%CE%91-%CE%95%CE%A0%CE%99%CE%92%CE%91%CE%A4%CE%95%CE%A3_04.05.2020_web-1.pdf Proastiakos timetable 2020
  10. Web site: » General Network MapOSE. 28 January 2024.
  11. News: 2023-02-28 . 2 trains collide in northern Greece, at least 15 killed . en-US . BNO News . 2023-03-01 . 1 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230301005656/https://bnonews.com/index.php/2023/02/2-trains-collide-in-northern-greece-at-least-15-dead/ . live .
  12. News: 2023-03-01. Dozens killed after two trains collide in Greece. en. BBC News. 2023-03-01. 1 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230301102920/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-64807384. live.
  13. News: 2023-03-01 . At least 40 dead, scores injured after trains collide in Greece . en . Reuters . 2023-03-01 . 1 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230301013848/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/two-trains-collide-greece-dozens-feared-injured-2023-03-01/ . live .
  14. Web site: Panoutsopoulou . Magda . Greece declares 3 days of national mourning in wake of deadly train crash . AA News . 1 March 2023 . 1 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230301134328/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/greece-declares-3-days-of-national-mourning-in-wake-of-deadly-train-crash/2834541 . live .
  15. News: Smith . Helena . 2023-03-01 . Greece train crash: at least 40 killed and dozens injured in collision . en-GB . The Guardian . 2023-03-01 . 0261-3077.