Greece’s trains stop for a day as rail workers strike
Train services across Greece came to a standstill on Friday, 30 October, as railway workers staged a 24-hour strike. The stoppage hit intercity journeys, suburban trains and regional routes, and cut rail links to Athens International Airport.
The operator, Hellenic Train, confirmed the network-wide suspension in an update at 12:40 p.m., after a morning of individual cancellations. Suburban trains between Piraeus and Tavros and the airport were suspended, along with services between Ano Liosia and the airport. The airport itself stayed open, and flights were not cancelled because of the strike.
Cancellations reached across the country, including the Athens–Thessaloniki, Athens–Chalkida, Piraeus–Kiato, Kiato–Aigio, Thessaloniki–Larissa and Thessaloniki–Serres routes, services around Patras, and trains between Alexandroupoli and Ormenio in the north-east. All seven services on the Pyrgos–Katakolo–Olympia line, used by visitors to Ancient Olympia, were cancelled too.
Buses replaced trains on a few routes only, including intercity service IC57 from Thessaloniki to Athens, due to leave at 4:49 p.m. Most cancelled trains had no replacement.
The strike followed a dispute between railway unions and Hellenic Train. The train drivers’ union first announced the stoppage, but a court in Piraeus ruled that action unlawful after the operator challenged it. The Panhellenic Federation of Railway Workers then called a separate 24-hour strike for the same day, which the operator questioned. Unions have raised concerns about safety, staff shortages, the condition of trains and infrastructure, and working conditions.
Travellers faced a second disruption the same day: a separate seafarers’ strike kept ferries in port at Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio.
Why it matters
Greece’s railways are a lifeline for commuters, students and visitors moving between Athens, Thessaloniki and smaller towns. A one-day stoppage shows how quickly a labour dispute can strand people nationwide — and how a court ruling does not always end a strike when a second union steps in. The same-day ferry stoppage made things worse for anyone travelling on to the islands.
What happens next
Hellenic Train published an update for Saturday, 31 October, but normal service did not return at once: two early services, from Oinoi to Chalkida and from Chalkida to Athens, were cancelled along with their replacement buses. Passengers were advised to check the latest notices before travelling, and those whose trains were cancelled can claim a refund or compensation online within three months.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://ftnnews.com/travel-news/rail/greece-rail-strike-athens-airport-trains-oct-30/ (FTN News, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/gx42hyzmvct9/ (Travel and Tour World, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.traveltourister.com/news/greece-railway-strike-october-30-31-2026-hellenic-train-athens-thessaloniki-airport-all-trains-cancelled/ (Travel Tourister, 31 October 2026)
