Three weeks short of its 1st anniversary, the Thessaloniki Metro has shut down. Is there anything worse than having a benefit withdrawn, even if temporarily? Apparently, it should last for around 30 days while the extension to Kalamaria is being completed. Also, they are bringing in new rolling stock. The idea is for passengers to wait no more than three minutes for a train.
New bus services have been set up to help passengers. One such bus will operate from Nea Elvetia to the Train Station, calling only at bus stops near the metro stations. It’s hardly ideal. However, it might sow the idea in the planners’ heads that there are too many bus stops in the city. I feel sure 25% of them could be down away with. For example between Kamara and Agias Sofias there is a stop called Iasonidou. There is no need for it.
Public transport often proves to be a source of entertainment. (In 25/006 Greek Word, I describe the circumstances in which I learnt that “επιστήμονας” could mean smart ass or wise guy as well as scientist.) In another incident, at the end of summer, I was sitting opposite two young women who were speaking a foreign language. They were quite loud if truth be told. A middle-aged Greek lady approached them and asked them to speak more quietly. The young women said they weren’t doing any harm. As the lady continued to speak, I felt I had to intervene. “There is noise from the engine, noise from the brakes and doors, noise from the AC, yet these two women are annoying you.” I was expecting a full-blown argument to develop but, surprisingly, the woman shut up. The two women told me they were talking “ρουμάνικα”. My guess is that they were gypsies, which probably was a factor in the older woman’s annoyance; I doubt she would have intervened had two Greek girls been speaking at the same volume. I had a flashback to my Glaswegian mother, who hated the way the Irish treated tinkers. I remember at least two acts of kindness she showed to travellers (the politically correct term) when I was a kid in Ennis.
Still on public transport, based on what is happening at the IKEA bus terminal, I will be surprised if the metro resumes by December 10th or shortly afterwards. The main passenger area has been shut for about three months for resurfacing, I think. A job that should have taken a weekend. According to the local transport’s app, 8 bus lines use IKEA as a terminal. I think the real number is higher. It is not uncommon to find around 50 people waiting for the 69 or 73. Now all passengers are herded into one area which acts as the solitary stop for all the bus lines. Queuing – not a Greek virtue in the best of circumstances – generates much pushing and jostling as over 200 people hope the next arrival is their bus. On top of that. the out of service buses are using car parking areas, which makes me think that these areas will also require resurfacing before long.
Travelling on the 3K last night, I was unable to stamp my ticket as the orange stamping machine was out of order. This is quite common as the boxes are being phased out; the machines either don’t work or don’t have any ink. My usual tactic is to make a second attempt which, if also unsuccessful, leads me to the conclusion: Fuck it. Last night the bus was so crowded that the Fuck it was employed after the first failed attempt.
Finally, the 3K, the bus going into town was electric. The return journey was diesel. I am a little sceptical about electric vehicles, especially if the source of the electricity is coal- or lignite-fired power stations, but the engine noise and brake screeching of the return journey made me appreciate what a massive improvement electric buses will bring about in public transportation.