What I can see

Today, we see the version of the station after its renovation for the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, during which an additional level of 130m was added, where the ticket offices, the station office, shops, ancillary areas and footbridges were added. These footbridges connect the two adjacent stadiums (Karaiskaki, SEF). The underground pedestrian paths were also remodeled. The most distinctive feature of the station is the canopy, which resembles flying seagulls. The design is on point, thanks to the station’s proximity to the sea. The architect of the renovation, Giorgos Kyriazis, designed the canopy so that its slopes offer maximum protection from the sun and rain. It is also coated with aluminum. The floor on the ground floor consists of heavy tiles and that of the first floor of granite and marble.

What I can't see

The station’s recent renovation was necessary. It had to be more functional. It was estimated that during the Olympic Games, 32,000 passengers passed through the station per hour. However, this was not the only renovation or conversion of the station. With the alignment proposal of the Athens-Piraeus railway connection (1869), the station was designed to be located a little further north and also be the first station on the route. This design was not particularly functional and after the new layout, many problems were solved for passengers, while the network was connected to the port of Piraeus. With the renovation that finally took place during the interwar period, reinforced concrete was used, an innovative material for the time. Three docks, an underground pedestrian path and a train depot were also built.

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