A forgotten track whispers tales of Athens’ past. This is the site of the Lavrion Square-Strofyli railway. Imagine a time before the Athens Metro. Before the roar of automobiles filled the streets. Before the sleek electric trains. This very spot was once the northern terminus of a bustling narrow-gauge railway.
The Lavrion Square-Strofyli railway a vital artery of Athens’ early transport system. It connected the city center to the northern suburb of Kifissia. The line’s final stop was Strofyli. This station opened after 1900. It wasn’t just a passenger line. It carried freight too. Heavily laden trains rumbled through these streets. They transported blocks of marble from quarries. The marble fueled Athens’ growth. It shaped its iconic buildings and monuments.
The Lavrion Square-Strofyli railway began its life on February 4 1885. Attica Railways operated the line. Their headquarters were near Liossion Street. Their depot was at Attiki Square. From there the line snaked its way northward. It largely followed the route of today’s Line 1 of the Athens Metro. The line wasn’t always a smooth ride. The section between Lavrion Square and Attiki Square was originally a street-level tramway.
In 1926 the Electric Transport Company took over. Ten years later the Heraklion to Lavrion branch went to the Piraeus Athens and Peloponnese Railways. Trains to Kifissia departed from Attiki Station. The Lavrion Square to Attiki Square section became tram route K. The railway continued under the Electric Transport Company until 1938. Then it was closed. Electrification plans were abandoned. World War II intervened.
The Lavrion Square-Strofyli line was never fully revived. The section from Attiki to Strofyli remained dormant. The line between Attiki and Strofyli was eventually abandoned. Yet its legacy endures. It reveals an overlooked chapter of Athens’ evolution. It shows how the city’s infrastructure developed. It tells of the vital role of transportation. The railway’s story is written into the very fabric of Athens. The Lavrion Square-Strofyli line a silent testament to a bygone era. A hidden piece of Athenian history. A poignant reminder of the ever-changing landscape of this ancient city.