Why has the Athens trolleybus cable removal fallen behind schedule?
The original plan announced in summer 2025 by then Deputy Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis aimed to replace most trolleybuses with electric buses and remove 70 percent of the overhead network. One year later only 4 km of inactive lines have been taken down in Piraeus. An earlier 3 million euro tender for broader works was cancelled after successive rejections by the Court of Audit. The supporting cost-benefit study was never formally presented by OASA, while a counter-study by ILPAP workers reached opposite conclusions on savings. No updated timetable or budget has been released for the wider network, leaving the pace of work unclear and the overall programme behind its initial schedule.
The new tender published in June 2026 limits scope to 53 km of copper conductors from inactive sections plus 150 support arms and 30 poles. The contract duration is fixed at 12 months, placing final delivery in September 2027 if the timetable is met. Administrative setbacks including the Court of Audit decision 723/2026 blocked the larger 2025 programme and forced a narrower approach.
What does the new OSY contract cover?
The 1.6935 million euro contract requires the contractor to deliver all removed material to OSY and to log every intervention site on a digital map of the network. Work is expected to start immediately after the September 2026 signature. The limited scope reflects the repeated administrative setbacks that blocked the larger 2025 programme. Every removal point must be recorded on the digital platform, and the contractor must hand over the copper and other materials to OSY. This contract does not address maintenance of the remaining active network.
How does the current plan compare with the 2025 target?
The 2025 target foresaw removal of 143 km, leaving only 44 km on main corridors. The new contract removes barely one third of that volume and leaves the fate of the remaining network undecided. No updated study has been published to justify the reduced ambition or to confirm the claimed 50 percent operating-cost saving from switching to electric buses. The original plan also cited a 20 million euro saving from avoiding network replacement and maintenance, yet these figures have not been revisited after the tender cancellations. It remains unclear whether the full target will ever be pursued.
What happened to the earlier 3 million euro tender?
The earlier tender covered replacement of 600 poles, removal of 700 poles, repair of 500 bases, removal of 16 km of conductors and 350 support arms, plus periodic inspection of remaining poles. The Court of Audit rejected both the original procedure and OSY’s appeal under decision 723/2026. OSY now intends to re-launch that tender in September 2026. The broader tender had included both dismantling and ongoing maintenance of the network that would stay in service, unlike the current narrower contract focused only on inactive sections.
What remains uncertain about the overall programme?
It is still unclear whether the full 143 km removal will ever be attempted or on what timetable. The supporting cost-benefit study was never formally presented by OASA, and a counter-study by ILPAP workers reached opposite conclusions. No revised timetable or budget has been released for the wider network. The 12-month contract ending in September 2027 addresses only the 53 km portion, leaving open the question of the remaining active lines and whether further contracts will follow.
Frequently asked questions
When will the current removal works finish?
The 12-month contract signed in September 2026 schedules completion for September 2027, provided the timetable is respected.
How many kilometres of cable will actually be removed?
The active contract covers 53 km of copper conductors from inactive sections, far below the original 143 km target.
Why was the first tender cancelled?
The Court of Audit rejected the 3 million euro procedure and its appeal, citing repeated procedural irregularities.
Will the remaining trolleybus network stay in place?
Authorities have not announced whether the remaining 90 km of active lines will be retained or removed at a later stage.
Has any cost-saving study been published?
No official study supporting the 50 percent operating-cost claim or the 20 million euro maintenance saving has been released by OASA.
