News from the Association - Railway news
Summer 2006
The summer that passed was quite intese because of the fact that the railway on the Peloponnes reaches a very low point. Within one night the GTW 2/6 were withdrawn from service that almost paralyzed the network due to accute rolling stock shortage.
The reason of the withdrawal was of technical nature and brought again into service Alco hauled trains with passenger cars and the some withdrawn Ganz-Mavag trainsets.
The situation came finally back to normal during early fall as the technical problem was solved and the trainsets were put back into service. Mr. Chionis from the directorate of OSE made a "reassurance" trip to the depot in Kalamata. For this visit, also some local authorities gave their presence.
We think that there is no point in analyzing the technical problem that came up. The thing that we should stress is, that with such actions the Railway on the Peloponnese will loose its positive momentum that apperead since Fall 2004. The biggest loss was on the TEI line and we hope that OSE will be able to catch up to the old figures pretty soon.
The other thing that must be stressen of that many Mass Media presented this technical problem as the vehicles were dangerous for service, which is totally untrue. The withdrawal from service was done preventively so that no problem would come up and that a solution could be sought. AT NO POINT WERE THE VEHICLES DANGEROUS FOR THE PASSENGERS AND WE REMIND THAT THE RAILWAY IS THE SAFEST SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
Pictures from the visit of Mr. Chionis to the depot of Kalamata
(Pictures: Leonidas Kylintireas)
5/3/2006
On Sunday the 5th of March 2006 a day trip to the Carnival of Patras was organized with a rented IC "Carnival Express". MAny of our friends joined us in the journey of happiness and enjoyment.
Photograph left: The cashier of our Association
Spyros Filippas in the role of the conductor
Photograph right: ...and the necessary photo stop on the
Alfeios bridge
(Both Photographs: Leonidas Kylintireas)
12/2/2006
On Sunday the 12th of February 2006 our Association organized its annual New Year Pie excursion. This time our journey took us to Ancient Olympia.
For the purpose of this trip a DMU of the type Ganz Mavag was used as soon they will withdrawn from active service. Our journey started at 9:00 in the morning from the train station of Kalamata and during the trip many Photo stops were made. With our arrival in Olympia, a ceremony was held for our New Years Pie and the lucky winner, who found the coin, got as a present the book of our Friend Spyros Nikolopoulos "The most beautiful journey. Afterwards a guided tour took place in the Archeological site by a professional tour guide. The return trip started at 16:00 and we arrived in Kalamata late in the afternoon.
Photograph left: The excursion train (DMU
Ganz Mavag) on the little bridge just outside the station of Kaiafas
Photograph right: The cutting of the New Years Pie by the
President Giannis Pantazopoulos
(Both Photographs: Leonidas Kylintireas)
4/1/2006
On Wednesday the 4th of January 2006 the annual general assembly was conducted in order to elect the new board of our association. This procedure elected the following:
President: Giannis Pantazopoulos
Vice-President: Ilias Ntaivis
Secretary General: Leonidas Kylintireas
Cashier: Spyros Filippas
Member: Giorgos Sinanis
We wish the new board good luck!!!!!!!!!!