Recent News

The railway operations and infrastructures sections of the Hellenic Institute for Transport can be described in terms of the main areas of research activities that have taken place in it over the years. These activities and interests, in relation to railways, include the following fields:

• Railway Policies: The Institute has a long experience in research having to do with the formulation of railway policies both at national and international level. Some of the issues that have been dealt with include the integration of international railway corridors, the assessment of bottlenecks and the improvement of border crossing procedures and the overall improvement of railway operations. The issues examined include freight and passenger railway transport, as well as mixed traffic.
• ERTMS: The institute is initiating the development of an ERTMS certification laboratory. The objective of the laboratory will be to certify that the selected sub-systems are in compliance with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI). The subsets under consideration for certification are subset-076, subset-085 and subsets-110, 111, 112. Subset-076 is related to the sequence of checks that are related to the achievement of interoperability of the EVC (European Vital Computer). Subset-085 is related to the checks that are related to the interoperability of the trackside equipment and more specifically the Eurobalises. Subsets 110, 111 and 112 check the interoperability of the above subsystems and are performed in a simulated environment within a certified laboratory by a notified body.
• Infrastructure and interoperability: The achievement of interoperability and the application of the provisions of the European interoperability regulations to Greece. The Institute has performed a number of studies on behalf of the Greek railways on interoperability issues and this field has comprised one of the main fields of interest of the Institute over the years 200 – 2008. HIT has participated in numerous projects aiming to identify the areas and specific fields of the Greek railway network, impeding the achievement of interoperability, mainly having to do with infrastructure and signaling.
• Intermodality and freight transport operations: This is the area in which the HIT has a long and rich experience and this involves all modes of transport including of course the railways. Freight transport and logistics are considered in terms of: planning, operations, infrastructures, as well as policies that need to be followed.

• Evangelos Bekiaris: Director of the Hellenic Institute for Transport (HIT)

• Georgia Ayfantopoulou: Deputy Institute Director and head of the Sector B (Smart Sustainable Mobility- Freight Transport – Networks) Design and Management of Transport Systems, Traffic Management, Transport Systems Management, Use of Telematics Applications in Combined Transport, GIS, Vehicle Fleet Management, Operations Research.
• Maria Boile: Head of Sector C (Transport Economics – Environment – Non land transport). Freight transport management and policies. Empty wagons management, European and Trans-Eurasian railway corridors.
• Christos Pyrgidis: Cooperating Academic researcher (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) on: Infrastructure, railway interoperability, freight railways, railway, vehicles, marshalling yards, combined transport, urban and suburban railway transport, trams, railway signaling, education and training.
• Annie Kortsari: Senior research associate, rail infrastructure, high speed railway transport, freight railways, European and Trans-Eurasian railway corridors, combined transport.
• Alexander Stathacopoulos: Project Management, freight railways, freight transport, Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T), supply chain security.

• NEAR²: Network of European – Asian Rail Research Capacities: Creation of a Rail Research Network along the Trans-Eurasian Railway Network.
• ACROSSEE: Accessibility Improved at Border Crossing for the Integration of South East Europe: Technical consultant to the Hellenic Railways (TRAINOSE).
• GIFT: Green Intermodal Freight Transport in the SEE region: Consultant to the Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks.
• SEECP – South East European Cooperation Process: Participation in the relevant committee aiming to create a high speed railway networks along the participating countries.
• RAIL4SEE: Rail Hub Cities for South East Europe
• REORIENT: Implementing Change in the European Railway System: Assessment of the process of transforming the European Railways from nationally fragmented into internationally integrated rail operating systems.
• REVITA: Development of small and medium sized railway stations into multipurpose local service centers.