Athens - KA8

If you are wondering like me at the first sight- yes, it's the main station in a capital city. There are some timetables, but it takes time to understand. No announcements at the platforms.

So much history... people told me to be careful is Athens but I felt very safe. The Athen streets seem dirty compared to other parts of Europe or Greece but Athens more than make up for this with its history. People are helpful and friendly. Food is amazing and extremely cheap... I spent 3 days walking the city and sore most things.

By no means a bad station but at same time it doesn't feel like the central station of a capital. Bare in mind that it's still under construction so a few things can be overlooked. The one thing I can't is that there aren't any electronic boards for each platform so that we don't have to head back to the entrance to check departures and arrivals and from which platform trains leaves. I'm sure it's not such a hard thing to do, dear trainose team, right? ?

Difficult to navigate when you don't speak Greek and hard to feel safe in the neighborhood at night. Also, the cab drivers will rip you off if possible. I was charged 5 euro to get there, but 15 euro to get back and the driver made me wait in the cab until he got another fare to join me. I didn't speak Greek well enough to argue. Too bad since this experience leaves a bad taste in your mouth about all of Athens.

No information on screens. So I ask the station staff 'which platform for Chalkida?' 'Platform 10 for Chalkida'. Sit on train for 15 mins waiting to go with no info on the train or platform either. Driver gets on just before departure and says 'this is the train Piraeas, Kiato, platform 8 for you'. Finally find out my train is on platform 7 on the train that says 'Piraeus Kiato' on it. Honestly, with 2 trains running during that hour from the station how can there be such big confusion all round? Also, the entry gates don't work for the QR code tickets issued. Not an issue in this station whilst gates are manned, but in the airport for example the advice is simply to follow someone through! Got stuck with all the other QR code pax on arrival in the airport, nobody there to assist and with no more arrivals there was also nobody to follow through the gate. All a bit ridiculous. I've read contributions saying it's ok, it works it's old etc.. fine, you can get a train there but the point of reviews is to highlight what can be improved surely. Another review suggested learning a little Greek - all of the Greek people there were completely confused too evidenced by loads of people shouting to eachother and equally confused station staff 'πάει αυτό στη Χαλκίδα, είναι αυτό για τη χαλκίδα', etc as departure time loomed.

No information signs about the lines where the trains depart and arrive. Some escalators and lifts are out of order for MONTHS !!!!!! Be careful amd protect your belongings!!!!! Full of pocketpickers, beggars and other underground people.... Total absence of Police!!!!!

I arrived on time for a train asking for tickets to Kalambaka and person in the counter told me there were no tickets… Later I knew, train was in the station, she didn’t inform us where to go… suddenly a taxi driver arrived and for $90 EUR let us in the next station… were they involved? You can’t buy tickets in internet for this train.

Ticket machine wasn't working, so one has to buy the tickets at the desk. Only 2 out of 5 desks were working, so there is a queue and this means better show up 30min before the train departure to make sure you can manage everything on time. Info screen is also not working. I feel a capitol city as Athens, really deserves a better main station