The History of Trikala Urban Tranportation

In early 1957, the then Motorway Council of Trikala decided to establish a public transport system in the city of Trikala with two lines: Agia Moni – A Gymnasium & Pyrgos – Gul Baze.

The decision of the Motorway Council was approved by the Ministry of Transport. The Motorway Council then published a notice inviting interested parties to submit applications for the operation of buses on the above two lines.

On April 20, 1957, Good Friday, the inauguration took place in front of the ACHILLEION cinema, when the operation of buses on the above two lines began.

From 1958 to 1968, the Motorway Council approved another thirteen (13) bus routing licenses for the Urban Bus Service, bringing the number of buses to 17. New lines were also created, thus better meeting the needs of the passenger public in the wider area of ​​our prefecture.

Starting from the city, the following are indicatively mentioned:
Rizario, Chrysavgi, Kefalovryso, Kalyvia, Raxa, Ardani, Mouria, Chaidemeni, Pigi, etc.

October 1973. By decree of the then Minister of Transport, Mr. Yakas, it was decided to merge the intercity KTELs with the urban KTELs of all the provinces and the date of the merger was set as December 17, 1973. However, the merger did not take place on the specified date due to the Christmas holidays. It took place on January 17, 1974 and lasted until August 9, 1977, when the separation took place again.

Since 1983, the two Associations that existed until then have been united under the name ASSOCIATION OF URBAN BUS OWNERS OF THE PREFECTURE OF TRIKALA and with the aim of safeguarding, studying and producing the common economic, social and professional interests of its members.

The years that followed were quite difficult for the Urban Bus Service. The poor management of its operation resulted in the accumulation of debts to IKA and the DYO (F.K.E – F.M.Y).

However, in recent years, with the help of all shareholders and the Management’s firm position for a Urban Bus Service that is in line with the spirit of the times and uses all modern technological means, but mainly with a high sense of responsibility for serving the passenger public, a remarkable effort has begun to upgrade and reconstruct it.

Thus, a series of actions are mentioned below, the most important of which are:
1. With the good cooperation of the Owners’ Association, the repayment of debts to the Tax Office was achieved in 1998 and the settlement of the debt to the Social Insurance Institution in 2003.
2. The relocation of the offices to a new building at 5 Vasileos Tsitsani Street in August 2002 and their staffing with modern technological means.
3. The replacement of the fleet with new buses and the issuance of twelve new licenses for corporate use
4. The creation of a tourist office and the purchase of a tourist train in 2003 for the execution of specially designed lines so that the visitor of our city can tour its most important sights.
5. The creation of new lines for better service to the passenger public.
6. The installation of radio communication systems on buses
7. The participation of our upgraded fleet in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
8. The creation of a new modern Central Station on 28th October Street and the concentration of all departure points at this point.
9. The purchase of land and the creation of modern facilities and a station for refueling, maintenance and parking of vehicles.
10. However, one of the most important actions of the Administration that clearly shows the policy it has outlined for years for a modern Urban Bus Service is, in collaboration with the Municipality of Trikala, its introduction into the new and pioneering Telematics project for our country. A project with European specifications that will bring significant results in the progress and development of the Urban Bus Service but also in better service to the passenger public.