Merrpip
Traveller
19 comments
Posted 14 years ago
Due to the economic crisis in Greece there is a general strike beginning on the 5th of May which will include the train services. I am currently in Kalambaka in Greece with 3 friends, and we were planning to stay here till the 5th, then travel to Thessaloniki and get the night train to Istanbul on the 6th, arriving on the 7th. However due to the strike we are now attempting to get the night train on the 4th (tomorrow), however we are unsure whether or not the train will be running. Is it likely to be cancelled as it will be travelling in Greece for around 5 hours on the 5th? Are there any other ways we could get to Istanbul either before the strike or while the strike is on?
Thanks for any advice you can give :)
Merrpip
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
Trains starting from Thessaloníki are in most cases available. The ones to Sofia should run, as these are mostly Bulgarian ones and Thessaloniki is the border station.
I was in Greece two times during a strike and Thessaloniki was always fine - but don't have any information concerning the train to Istanbul. Maybe travel first to Sofia and from there to Istanbul.
Otherwise you have in Greece a good bus network, so you could use them to leave Greece.
Good luck, Peter :)
Merrpip
Traveller
19 comments
Yeah I've just had a look for buses and they are our current backup plan! How much would the trains both straight to Istanbul and via Sofia cost with an IR Global pass do you think? I seem to remember couchettes being around 10 euro's on these sort of night trains
Thanks very much for your help :)
Merrpip
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Yes. Should be something like that...
On Thessaloniki - Sofia you should have as well a free day train. Then continue from Sofia to Istanbul by night train.
Greece-Sofia:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/athens-sofia-night-train/f3441[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/thessaloniki-sofia-train/f3415[/u] (but not sure if running already)
Sofia-Istanbul:
[u]https://rail.cc/en/belgrade-sofia-istanbul-train/f3054[/u]
Peter :)
Merrpip
Traveller
19 comments
Ok thanks i think we should be able to find our way to Istanbul now :)
[u]http://sofiaecho.com/2010/05/03/896133_greek-strike-disrupts-international-train-services[/u]
a bit more news on the matter, encouraging to see it may only be a 24 hour strike though!
Thanks again for your help :)
Merrpip
Merrpip
Traveller
19 comments
We are now planning to go to Sofia on the day train from Thessaloniki tomorrow, however we don't know exactly what time it goes or how long it is, any chance you could give us some more detail on times? No worries if not :)
Merrpip
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
I have these two trains which should be available without supplements and seats:
Thessaloniki Dep: 0640 (it's the night train from Athens)
Sofia Arr: 1232
Thessaloniki Dep: 1736
Sofia Arr: 2325
:)
Merrpip
Traveller
19 comments
Awesome! thanks very much for your help :)
Merrpip
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
But never trust these official times. It is not like you are used to in Western Europe... always have an other possibility of what to do in your head ... ;)
Merrpip
Traveller
19 comments
We managed to get the day train out to Sofia. Thanks so much for your advice, we left Greece at just the right time thanks to you! Hopefully anyone who is stuck there can find a way out in the near future
Thanks again
Merrpip
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Good to hear that. :)