The Greek-Swiss Initiative for the Reopening of the Peloponnese Railway (the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ELLET), the Swiss Embassy, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), and Swiss and Greek experts) invited railway enthusiasts and supporters to take action so that the train may once again whistle across the Peloponnese!
On Saturday, June 6, a hike took place along the railway tracks from the Desyllas Railway Station to the Diavolitsi Railway Station in Messinia. The route covered approximately 5.5 km, gently descending along a mountainside through dense forest and offering magnificent views of the Messinian olive groves. At Desyllas Railway Station, participants were guided by representatives of the cultural association “#WeLoveDesyllas”, while at Diavolitsi they met with representatives of local organizations and associations.
On Sunday, June 7, important announcements concerning the reopening of the railway were made at Kalamata Central Railway Station. Visitors and journalists also had the opportunity to board the train and travel on the Kalamata–Asprochoma route.
The two-day mobilization concluded with addresses by the Mayor of Kalamata, Ms. Eirini Frezadou, Member of the Board of ELLET and Coordinator of the Greek-Swiss Initiative for the Reopening of the Peloponnese Railway, and Mr. Ilias Davies, President of the Friends of the Messinia Railway Association and coordinator of the event.
Lydia Carras, Founder and President of ELLET, presented the latest significant developments regarding the effort to restore railway services in the Peloponnese, while the lecture delivered by the distinguished historian Maria Efthymiou on the history of the railway in the region attracted particular interest.
The objective of the two-day event was to continue raising public awareness and to encourage citizen participation and engagement in the effort to bring back the historic Peloponnese railway.