The first journey on Thessaloniki's new electrically-powered suburban railway to Litohoro in Pieria was carried out on Sunday with Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis on board. Inaugurating the Thessaloniki-Litohoro railway line, Liapis said its construction had cost 50 million euros.

The 98-kilometre line will go into commercial operation on Monday, while passengers will be able to travel free of charge on the first day in order to become acquainted with the new service.

The electric trains on the line will be able to travel at speeds up to 160 kilometres an hour and the average journey time from Thessaloniki to Litohoro will be 55 minutes. The line passes through three prefectures in northern Greece, those of Thessaloniki, Imathia and Pieria. There will be eight stations on its route and 16 services a day, one each hour in both directions, from 5 in the morning until midnight.

Stations along the route include Sindos, Adendro, Platy, Eginio, Korinos and Katerini. The fare from one terminal to another will be six euros one way and 10 euros for a one-month open return.

The new line is expected to be used by 3,000 passengers a day on average and the government intends to soon announce a unlimited travel card fare for those using the service daily.