The Athens Metro extension from Aghios Dimitrios station to Ellinikon will open to the public in the first quarter of 2010, Environment, Town Planning and Public Works minister George Souflias announced on Thursday, during a visit to the construction site, noting that the extension would include three new intermediate stations in Ilioupolis, Alimos and Argiroupolis.

   Souflias visited the construction site at the Ilioupolis station, as the tunnel boring machine arrived at the station.

   He explained that the extension had been due for completion in December 2009, but has been delayed due to the unearthing of significant antiquities along the route, and mainly in the Alimos area.

   The extension will serve more than 80,000 passengers daily, while the route from Ellinikon to Syntagma Square, which currently requires 40 minutes by car, would only take 15 minutes by metro. Parking facilities are also planned at all the stations, as well as transfer points to urban buses.

   Souflias further announced that the tendering procedures are progressing for another Metro expansion from Haidari to Piraeus, while the relevant studies are also progressing for the tendering of a new metro line from Galatsi to Syntagma Square, and form there to Maroussi, totaling 20 kilometers.

   Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Athens Metro works