Rapsani railway station (Greek: Σιδηροδρομικός σταθμός Ραψάνης, romanized: Sidirodromikos stathmos Ραψάνη) is a railway station near the village of Rapsani, Thessaly, Greece. It is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) 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.[5]
Ραψάνη Rapsani | |||||||||||||
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 Rapsani old station building, January 2005 | |||||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||||
| Location | Sidirodromikos Stathmos Rapsanis 400 07[1] Larissa Greece | ||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 39°53′59″N 22°36′53″E / 39.8997°N 22.6147°E | ||||||||||||
| Elevation | 83.00 metres (272.31 ft) | ||||||||||||
| Owned by | GAIAOSE[2] | ||||||||||||
| Managed by |
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| Line(s) | |||||||||||||
| Distance | 151.7 kilometres (94.3 mi) from Thessaloniki | ||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Train operators | Hellenic Train | ||||||||||||
| Connections |
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| Construction | |||||||||||||
| Structure type | At Grade | ||||||||||||
| Platform levels | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Yes | ||||||||||||
| Accessible |      | ||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||
| Status | Staffed | ||||||||||||
| Website | http://www.ose.gr/en/ | ||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||
| Opened | 1916 | ||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 7 September 2008 | ||||||||||||
| Electrified | 25 kV AC, 50 Hz[4] | ||||||||||||
| Previous names | Pyrgetos | ||||||||||||
| Original company | Evangelismos-Tempi-Rapsani railway | ||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||
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History
editThe 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.[2] 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[6] 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[7] damaged sections of track across the region.[8] However services between Larissa and Volos remain suspended across Thessaly’s coast until the track is repaired.
Facilities
editThe 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
editProastiakos
editThe station is served the following lines of the Thessaloniki Proastiakos or suburban railway:
1[9] Thessaloniki - Larissa[10] with 1 tph. (transfer to Regional, Express & InterCity services at Larissa).[11]
National train services
editCurrently while Intercity trains passthrough the station, non call at Rapsani.
Accidents and incidents
editOn 28 February 2023, a passenger train and a freight train collided 10.9 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of the station, resulting in the deaths of at least 57 people and injuring dozens,[12][13][14][15] making it the signal deadliest railway accident on record in Greece.[12][13] 50 to 60 people are currently unaccounted for following the crash.[16]
Station layout
edit| L Ground/Concourse |
Customer service | Tickets/Exits |
| Level L1 |
Side platform, doors will open on the right | |
| Platform 1 | Π1  towards Thessaloniki (Neoi Poroi) ←
| |
| Platform 2 | Π1 towards Larissa (terminus) →
| |
| Side platform, doors will open on the right | ||
References
edit- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ose.grwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Home". gaiaose.com.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ose-ns-2023was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "OSE - 2020 Network Statement Annexes".
- ^ Zisis Protopapas: The Larissa Railway, pp.3
- ^ "It's a new day for TRAINOSE as FS acquires the entirety of the company's shares". ypodomes.com. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "Restoring Thessaly railroad to take at least two years, minister says | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. kathimerini.com. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Train service from Larissa to Rapsani to resume | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. kathimerini.com. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ επιβατικό έργο trainose.gr [dead link]
- ^ Proastiakos timetable 2020
- ^ "» General Network MapOSE". Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b Panoutsopoulou, Magda. "Greece declares 3 days of national mourning in wake of deadly train crash". AA News. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ a b "2 trains collide in northern Greece, at least 15 killed". BNO News. 28 February 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Dozens killed after two trains collide in Greece". BBC News. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "At least 40 dead, scores injured after trains collide in Greece". Reuters. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ Smith, Helena (1 March 2023). "Greece train crash: at least 40 killed and dozens injured in collision". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 March 2023.