Just 10 kilometers from the center of Thessaloniki, specifically in the Nea Ionia area, lies Greece’s largest train carriage graveyard and one of the biggest train cemeteries in the world.
Stretching across approximately 5 kilometers, from the refineries to the bridge over the Galikos River, this site has been home to abandoned diesel engines, locomotives, and at least 1,000 rusted train carriages that have sat idle for over 30 years. These towering “ghosts” stand motionless on ten inactive railway tracks.
The sight of this place is breathtaking, not just for its size, but also for the way nature has already claimed parts of it, with large trees growing over some of the rusting carriages, creating a striking contrast to the desolate landscape.
Some refer to these abandoned giants as the "ghosts" of Thessaloniki, as the train carriages have become a refuge for homeless people and marginalized individuals.
Among these forsaken carriages, historical treasures have been found and removed, such as a restaurant car that once belonged to the famous Orient Express. This legendary carriage has been carefully restored by specialized craftsmen, returning it to its original form.
The Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) has also begun the process of restoring historical trains and carriages, which will be displayed at the new railway museum in Piraeus.
Watch the video.
