thetrainfamilySeptember’s storm and floodings in Greece had major consequences for train travel in the country. It also affected our journey from Thessaloniki to Athens.
Damaged train tracks and as a result… bus (again)
Before the trip we had read on the Greek railways website that the train tracks between Thessaloniki and Athens were damaged and that you had to travel the route by bus. By now we were getting tired of the bus ride, but there was nothing to do. We found a bus at the KTEL HomePage and booked immediately.
Thessaloniki bus station
In Thessaloniki we drove from Greece’s largest bus station. There are departures several times a day.
When we arrived at the station we went to the counter and had our online tickets exchanged for physical tickets. There is free access to toilets at the station. There is also a café and a shop with everything from magnets to watches. We waited in the big dome and immediately saw our bus when it arrived at platform 7. It was a big and nice modern bus.
Glimpse of the floodings
On the bus the driver heard non-stop traditional Greek music, which all passengers in the entire bus also enjoyed.
It was a nice drive from north to south Greece with views of mountains and through tunnels. At one point we saw the remnants of the floods. Solar cells in the fields were completely crumpled and there were something that looked like meltwater tunnels. It was probably also here that the train tracks had been destroyed.
A deserved break
A little over halfway, we stopped at the motorway cafeteria, where there was a half-hour break. It was possible to buy hot food, sandwiches, hot and cold drinks, etc. There was also access to a free toilet. We had eaten our food on the bus, as we did not know that there was a break and that we were not allowed to eat on the bus!
Sick kids and fear for a fine
The drive toward the centre of Athens was hard for the children, as we alternately drove and stopped, drove and stopped due to queues. Fortunately, we had a vomit bag with us for the children and it was also put to use. We arrived at the bus station and quickly found a bus. We had naively jumped on the bus in the expectation that you could buy tickets on board. That turned out not to be the case. But fortunately we were not caught for driving without a ticket. The children were looking forward to coming to the apartment and recuperating on the bus ride. We agreed that trains are better than buses.
Thessaloniki bus station
