Messinian Suburban Railway
The term Messenian Suburban Railway may refer either to the seasonal local railway services that operated between Kalamata and Messini, Greece during the period 2007–2016 after the suspension of the railway system in Peloponnese, or to the proposed development of a new suburban rail network in the Messenia regional unit, or the Suburban Railway that existed till 2011
History
Messini's branch
The Asprochoma - Messinia part of the line was built in 1892 but ceased operations the year 1976. Just five years before the suspension of the Metre-gauge railway of Peloponnesos, as a result of the economical crisis, the line ceased operations on 30th of January 2011 after it had been re-opened on 21 September 2007. The line was served by tactical rail services till 2011 but after the suspension the suburban railway was active during Christmas period and August or September during the Messinia Fest making it the fourth operational line in Peloponnese with Patras Suburban Railway, Katakolo-Olymbia and Diakopto–Kalavryta railway. The services were named Proastiakos after late 1990s when OSE did a rebranding on the line. During summer of 2025 the railway line from Asprochoma till Messini was removed in order for national road improvement works to be carried out. Aktor,the contractor of the project, stated that they will re place the railway line after the end of the main road works.Korinth - Kalamata line
While there was an active railway connecting Athens to Patras from 1884 the then branch line of Korinth - Argos - Nafplio was constructed in 1886. Other parts of the line were constructed during 1890s by private companies but after 1904 when Piraeus, Athens and Peloponnese Railways Company bought those companies the railway line took the form of today.Proposed plans
Reactivation
The proposed system would include three lines: Kalamata – Messini, running entirely on Asprochoma - [Messenia line|Asprochoma - Messenia railway line], Kalamata – Zevgolateio – Diavolitsi, and Kalamata – Kopanaki, utilizing the existing Metre-gauge railway infrastructure of the region of the abandoned Peloponnesian railway. According to feasibility estimates, the reactivation of the Kalamata–Messini line would require an investment of approximately €5 million, with annual operating costs estimated at €700,000. Historical ridership data from 2009 to 2010, when regular service was in operation, recorded 8,878 tickets sold within only 15 days, averaging over 590 passengers per day, indicating a strong level of demand. During the later seasonal operation, daily ridership during peak holiday periods is reported to have exceeded those numbers.The proposal has gained support from multiple local and regional bodies, including the Friends of the Railway Society of Messenia, the Municipal Council of Kalamata, the current Mayor of Kalamata, and the regional political movement "Prota i Peloponnisos". The Technical Chamber of Greece has also expressed formal interest in the project after strong disagreement of the Local communities on a study of TEE that wanted to convert the railway line to a bicycle path
Switzerland and ELLET
Feasibility and viability studies regarding the broader Korinthos–Kalamata metre-gauge corridor were being conducted by the Swiss Embassy in Greece in cooperation with the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage. The results of these studies were publicly presented in late 2025. A meeting between the Swiss embassy, ELLET and the mayor of Kalamata was carried out on 7/12/25 were they requested 400.000 euros for foundation so specialists from Zurich's university and Metsovio politechnio could carry out a business plan. Swiss experts said that the worth of the infrastructure is estimated to be 5,5 billion euros, while suggesting for the first step reactivation of Kalamata-Diavolitsi and Corinth-Nafplio lines. The mayor stated "The railway is one of our goals as one of the 100 carbon natural european cities"Due to the previous renovation works carried out between 2009 and 2012 and the availability of suitable rolling stock, full reactivation works are estimated to require only a few months once approved.
EMSE
EMSE, standing for Greek Meridian Railways Company, is a railway company that was established in 2024. It promises the full reactivation of Kalamata - Athens line with electrification and battery trains. EMSE is administered by Greek and German entrepreneurs, having its headquarters in Tripoli. The German co-founders are the owners of Nossen-Riesaer Eisenbahn-Compagnie which re-activated unused railway lines in Saxony. There are reports saying that already 35 kilometres of railway line have been restored while in the facebook page of Railway Friends Association of Messenia are a few uploaded videos of the said restorations. Railway Regulatory Authority of Greece is aware of the company and hasn't expressed disagreements, although the company is not officially recognised as railway company yet.Special events and Railway Friends Association of Messenia
Last routes and up coming events
After 31st of January 2011 when the line shut down, almost every year till 2016 there were organised 2-3 special trips from Greek Railways and railway friends association of England, Germany and Athens mainly for the line to be ready for reactivation. At the same time between December of 2015 and January of 2016 the last seasonal routes happened from Kalamata to Messinia. During February of the same year a storm damaged the switch point outside Kalamata's depot resulting in the suspension of all, even special, routes. With that electrification of stations and train crossing stopped and the seasonal stuffed was moved to Patras and Athens resulting in the complete abandonment to this day.On 31 December 2025, as a symbolic gesture towards the potential reactivation of the Peloponnese railway network, a special ceremonial train operated with the approval of OSE after 10 years. The event was organized jointly by the Municipality of Kalamata and the Railway Friends Association of Messenia. The train, carrying Santa Claus, his elves and Christmas gifts, departed from the Kalamata depot and arrived at the Kalamata Central Station, where presents were distributed to children in a festive event celebrating the city's railway heritage and renewal efforts. Afterwards the train did four small routes with passengers on board till Asprochoma,and back to the railway station of Kalamata.
The train arrived at 13:00 and stopped at the second platform in order to protect the spectators and have enough space. Technicians of OSE visited the line in early September and they came to the conclusion that the line is in excellent condition. The municipality of Kalamata has started to maintain the railway while the railway friends association of Messinia opened, cleaned and decorated the station's master office after 10 years. A team made by volunteers repainted and cleaned the 2 MAN1 DMUs that were used on the event. An AlCo was also maintained in case of emergency to be used. The event was a success with more than 2,000 people gathering at the station. The president of the community of Kalamata stated that "this was only the start". The event will be held again next Christmas with a bigger route.
On 8th of February the Railway Friends Association of Messenia celebrates 30 years and again there will be a special train that will do a small route, probably the same length with the same train. Railway enthusiasts from Athens, Germany and England will also participate.
Railway Friends Association of Messenia
The Railway Friends Association of Messenia is active from 1996 to this day. Their presence is of great importance as they are the last to take care of the line, they successfully managed to bring back even small routes and events with more to come.The Association also maintained the last trains located in Kalamata's depot and pressuring for reactivation. It is important to note that the Association is solely based on volunteers.Video Footage
Luckily there are many videos on youtube mostly between the years 2005-2010 which are showing the routes even on cab drivesKalamata - Corinth
Athens - Patras - Olympia
Messini - Kalamata
cab ride of the festive train 31/12/2025