Greece Tests New Electric and Hybrid Passenger Trains

GREECE: Hellenic Train is moving new electric and hybrid passenger trains through certification and dynamic testing as Coradia Stream and Blues Intercity units prepare for future commercial operation.

Coradia tests are complete, but authorisation is still pending

Hellenic Train has completed the required Greek-network testing for the Coradia Stream type. The programme included energy-subsystem trials at up to 160 km/h, compatibility checks on five routes and verification of ETCS and GSM-R systems.

Hellenic Train says the next step is to complete and assess the technical reports produced during the tests. Those reports will support submission of the authorisation dossier to the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA). An earlier Hellenic Train certification update said the process was expected to conclude in December 2026, subject to the required approvals from Greece’s Railway Regulatory Authority (RAS) and ERA.

The train used for the Greek certification campaign is a dedicated Coradia Stream test unit of the same type as the future fleet. Hellenic Train says it is used exclusively for testing and inspection and does not carry passenger-service interior or exterior equipment. That distinction means completion of network trials is not the same as authorisation for commercial passenger service.

The wider programme covers 23 six-car Coradia Stream electric trains for suburban and Intercity operation, including the Athens–Thessaloniki corridor. The trains are designed for speeds of up to 160 km/h and include ERTMS Level 2, passenger information systems and dedicated spaces for bicycles and prams.

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Blues Intercity units move into Greek testing

In parallel, Hellenic Train is testing Hitachi Rail Blues Intercity hybrid trainsets. The first unit has begun dynamic testing on the Thessaloniki–Larissa–Athens route, while a second train has already arrived in Greece.

Each train provides 200 seats and has a maximum speed of 160 km/h. The Blues platform combines diesel-electric propulsion with batteries; Hitachi Rail says its battery-hybrid technology can reduce fuel consumption by up to 50% compared with conventional diesel operation.

For the Greek units, testing is also only one stage before passenger service. The Greek transport ministry said the trains will enter operation after the prescribed tests are completed and certification is issued by RAS. The Athens–Thessaloniki corridor is their intended commercial role, but the supplied source does not establish a firm passenger-service start date.

The two programmes are therefore at different points in the approval process: Coradia Stream network testing has been completed and is moving toward authorisation documentation, while the Blues Intercity units are still undergoing Greek-network trials.

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