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Tram line extension to Piraeus moves closer to construction stage Posted: May 11, 2007 at 19:59 PM EST (24:59 AM GMT)

Extension of a tram line to the port of Piraeus dominated a meeting on Thursday between Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis and Piraeus Mayor Panayiotis Fassoulas, with an initial timetable released afterwards showing a completion date of spring 2010.
The long-discussed extension, which has generated support and opposition from shop owners in Piraeus, would extend into the country's largest port city from a present terminus at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in the coastal Neo Faliro district.
The greater Athens area's tram system -- inaugurated for the 2004 Olympic Games -- is comprised of a "Y" -shaped network, namely, one line leaving from central Athens and breaking off into two separate routes, one southwest towards Neo Faliro and the other southeast along various coastal districts before reaching the upscale municipality of Glyfada.
Another project for the congested municipality is the construction of an underground line, in place of the current above-ground section, for the electric train line (ISAP) serving Piraeus by 2010.
ANA-MPA