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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [TECHNOLOGY]

2 clusters · 6 sources · 25 days · First seen about 1 month ago · Last updated 15 days ago

Greek hybrid Intercity train rollout

Overview

In early July 2026 Greece received the first two Blues Intercity train sets built by Hitachi Rail for Hellenic Train. The units, each with 200 seats and a top speed of 160 km/h, feature hybrid propulsion that can cut fuel use and emissions by up to half.

By the end of July, Hellenic Train began dynamic testing of the first hybrid train on the Thessaloniki–Platy–Katerini–Larissa stretch, extending the trials across the full Athens‑Thessaloniki corridor. The three‑week program checks VHF communication, signaling, ETCS compatibility and overall fit with Greek rail infrastructure. Successful completion will lead to a technical dossier for certification by the end of 2026, completing the fleet renewal for the main intercity line.

Entities

Hitachi Rail · Intercity Blues IC · Athens‑Thessaloniki railway line · Regulatory Authority of Railways (RAΣ) · Hellenic Train

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] The first hybrid Intercity Blues IC train arrived in Thessaloniki on 6 July 2026.
[● 3 SOURCES] The second hybrid Intercity Blues IC train arrived in Thessaloniki on 30 July 2026.
[● 3 SOURCES] Dynamic tests started on the Thessaloniki–Platy–Katerini–Larissa segment and will extend over the Athens–Thessaloniki axis.
[● 3 SOURCES] The test programme lasts about three weeks and includes checks of VHF communication, signalling, ETCS and compatibility with Greek rail infrastructure.
[● 3 SOURCES] Each train has a capacity of 200 passengers, a top speed of 160 km/h and hybrid technology that reduces fuel consumption by up to 50% compared with conventional diesel trains.
[● 3 SOURCES] A technical dossier will be submitted to the Regulatory Authority of Railways (RAΣ) aiming for approval by the end of 2026.
[● 3 SOURCES] The Blues IC trains are built by Hitachi Rail as part of Hellenic Train's fleet renewal programme for the Athens‑Thessaloniki line.

Timeline

15 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
Hellenic Train begins dynamic tests of new hybrid Intercity Blues IC trains on Athens‑Thessaloniki line
Hellenic Train started three‑week dynamic tests of two new hybrid Intercity Blues IC trains, arriving in Thessaloniki in July 2026, aiming for RAΣ approval by year‑end.
about 1 month ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
Greece receives first Blues Intercity train sets for Hellenic Train
Two Hitachi‑built Blues Intercity trains arrived in Thessaloniki on July 5, marking a step in Greece's rail modernisation under a 2025 Greece‑FS agreement.

Sources

businessdaily.gr · larissanet.gr · lawforall.co.za · naftemporiki.gr · seleo.gr · ypodomes.com