Train and Rail Travel in Thessaly Page 4 (see Greece train map)

The Kalambaka Line to Meteora Monasteries

This railway, partly of the meter-gauge type (at one time, completely) covers a distance of 164km/101miles, and contributed to the early 20th century agricultural development of the area it traversed, as well as providing transport to villages along the way and access to the Agrafa and Pindos mountain ranges. The 80km stretch from Palaiofarsalo to Kalambaka was rebuilt to main line standard gauge capacity, allowing for through Athens/Thessaloniki-Kalambaka service.

Volos-Karditsa

This lines follows the route of the line to Velestino but heads south to cross round the east and south of Mt. Khalkodonion. There are stops at Aerino , Khalkodonio, Rigeo, Dasolfo, Sitohor and Farsalo, the last town off in the distance in the foothills of Mt. Othrys; then Enotiki.

Some of this section may by now be used only for steam trains, however. Between Palaiofarsalo and Trikala there are some 80 bridges over the many water courses that cut through the plain, with big ones across the Pamisos, Pinios, Koumerkis and Aghia Moni rivers. This is an intensely agricultural region, with cotton, tobacco and soy beans among the many crops grown.

Ta Agrafa

Kardhitsa has a population of around 40,000, and very much of a market town, though there are some lodgings there for travellers. The Agrafa means 'The Unwritten Places', its name coming from the fact of its not having been put on the Ottoman tax rolls, perhaps due to its inaccessibility. Other stories have it that the name dates back to early Christian times, when it was an area that couldn't be controlled by the dominant theologians. There are still villages in this area which are very remote, and reachable only by foot or donkey/mule, where the few residents are there only in summer (though perhaps a few diehards weather all the seasons there) maintaining the land and houses for the relatives who left the harsh mountain life for the cities.

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