Greece receives first Blues Intercity train sets for Hellenic Train

On July 5, the first of two Blues Intercity diesel‑electric multiple‑unit trains arrived in Thessaloniki, traveling the Balkan rail corridor through Slovenia, Serbia and North Macedonia. The four‑car, hybrid units were built by Hitachi Rail and supplied by Italy’s Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) for Hellenic Train.

Capable of 160 km/h and equipped with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and VHF radio, the trains are set to operate on the main Athens‑Thessaloniki line after testing and certification by the national railway regulator. Their introduction follows a May 2025 memorandum between the Greek government and FS, aiming to modernise Greece’s rail fleet after two decades, alongside a larger order of electric Coradia Stream units.

Greek transport officials say the new units will improve service reliability, passenger comfort and the environmental footprint of rail travel, supporting broader efforts to upgrade the country’s railway infrastructure.