Athens City Guide - Getting There By Rail

The Greek railway service is run by Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE), Karolou 1 (tel: 1110 (information); website: www.ose.gr). Greek trains have first- and second-class accommodation and there are luxury sleeper trains on selected routes. However, the rail service is limited to the northern and eastern mainland and parts of the Peloponnese.

Trains are cheaper than buses but generally much slower. Reservations are available for no extra charge and there is a 20% rebate on return fares. Touring cards, issued by OSE, entitle the holder to unlimited second-class travel at a reduced cost for 10, 20 or 30 days - there are further discounts for groups. All trains now depart from Larissis station, off Dheliyáni (tel: 210 529 8829). Facilities at Larissis station are minimal, basically left luggage and a couple of bars.

Rail services: The domestic railway network is limited to the mainland and is generally slower than travel by road. Destinations include Patra (fastest journey time - 3 hours 20 minutes) and Kalamata (fastest journey time - 7 hours 10 minutes).

International train services require changing at Thessaloníki (fastest journey time - 4 hours 15 minutes), from where the only direct services are to Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM (the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. A train to London, for example, requires a complicated series of changes and takes three and a half days.