Old Tram Tracks Unearthed on Evripidou Street in Athens, Greece

On the occasion of the discovery of old tram tracks on Evripidou Street (9 January 2026), during public works near Aiolou Street, I felt the urge to look back at the forgotten transport history of central Athens and the role the tram played in shaping the city.

(Discovery of tram tracks on Evripidou Street)

1. Evripidou Street and the urban fabric of the city center

Evripidou Street and the surrounding streets of Athens, such as Aiolou, Stadiou, and Omonia Square, formed the core of an urban fabric that began to develop as early as the late 19th century. These streets were closely linked to the city’s main commercial and social activities.

The tram lines (1882–1960) followed these central axes, serving the daily mobility needs of residents and supporting the flow of trade.

(Possibly Stadiou Street and 3rd September Street – the so-called Patission Avenue, 1950s)

2. The tram during the Occupation

During the German Occupation (1941–1944), the area around Omonia became a stage of survival. The streets filled with long lines of people waiting for soup kitchens, while everyday life was constrained by hunger, executions, and destruction.

The tram, although operating in a limited capacity due to shortages of fuel and electricity, may have continued running along selected routes such as Evripidou Street, facilitating the movement of Athenians toward food distribution points. The rails embedded in streets like Stadiou, Aiolou, and Evripidou became tools of social resilience during a time of crisis.

(Association of Athenians, Lifo.gr)

3. Omonia Square and the soup kitchens

Omonia Square and the surrounding streets were central points for food distribution. Thousands of Athenians queued for a cup of food, while public spaces filled with people seeking a bit of warmth or shelter.

These scenes, recorded in historical testimonies, capture the harsh daily reality of the city at the time and highlight the importance of means of transport, such as the tram, in providing access to soup kitchens.

4. Liberation and modernization

With the liberation of Athens (12 October 1944), the streets around Omonia were filled with life and joy, yet the wounds of the occupation period remained.

During the postwar modernization of the city, the tram lines were dismantled, closing a historically significant cycle: from an everyday means of transportation to a tool of survival and collective memory.

5. From memory to solidarity today

Today, initiatives such as the Katagýfio Agápis (Shelter of Love) at Evripidou Street 14 (7th floor) revive the tradition of community care. Just as the soup kitchens of Omonia once offered minimal yet vital relief to the people of the city, these contemporary actions create spaces of solidarity and support, reminding us that the city remains alive through mutual care and human connection.

Sources

https://www.news247.gr/gnomes/istorikos-peripatos-stin-katoxiki-athina

https://www.facebook.com/p/Καταφύγιο-Αγάπης-και-Συμπαράστασης-100064342675771/