Train and Rail Travel in Macedonia Northern Greece Page 2 (see Greece train map)

Thessaloniki - Platamon

This is the northern segment of the north /south standard gauge mail rail line in Greece, most double track, with many daily trains going east and west.

There are many old steam locomotives stored on the left side of the train as one leaves Thessaloniki. The branch to Serres and Alexandhroupoli goes off to the right near Diavata (no stop), and a rail lines crosses a 170meter iron bridge over the Gallikos, shortly after, the train stops at Sindos. After a long, flat plain, the train cross the Axios River over a 620meter girder bridge, which is the largest river in Macedonia, its sources in former Yugoslavia. It only flows for 80km in Greece, and was a dangerous malarial marsh before flood and reclamatio works in 1925. There's a stop at the Axios station, followed by another bridge 152meters long. The next river crossing is over the artificial Loudias River, created as part of the 1925 drainage project; the train stops after here at the rail junction of Platy, followed by several small villages, then a 450meters bridge over the Aliakmon River before the station of the same name. This is the longest river in Greece, its source in the Pindos mountains on the Albanian border, and flows 175km into the Thracian Gulf. The upper part of the river is through gentle valleys, the middle flows through narrow gorges, and the mouth has been dammed near Veria (1973).

Continuing to the south are small villages settled by Asia Minor refugees forced to leave in 1923, after the disastrous Greco-Turkish War. Kolidhros is noted for its annual custom on 8 January (St. Domenika Day) when women and men changes roles, and the women hang out in the cafes while the men do household chores. At the Makriyialos station the first sandy beaches are glimpsed, with campsites, hotels cafes and restaurants. This is the first beach resort reachable by train from Thessaloniki. Mt Olympus is also visible from here; the largest salt mines Greece, surrounded by the Touzla Marsh, are in this area, as well as an ancient harbor, and some archaeological sites. Katerini, with a population of around 50,000, is situated right below Mt. Olympus and is a major rail junction. The ancient site of Dion is one of the main reasons that people come to Katerini. Litohoro, to the south, is the starting point for hiking and camping on Mt. Olympus, the station (near the coast) 7km from the village, which is at the mouth of the Mavrolongos Gorge. You can walk to the road where the buses stop for Litohoro, though, which takes only a couple of minutes form the station. There are also campsites along the shore.

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