GAIAOSE, a member company of the Hellenic Superfund/Growthfund, is revitalizing dormant railway sites to serve local communities, creating new public spaces and initiatives with a social and developmental impact throughout Greece.
Through partnerships with municipalities and institutional bodies, the company repurposes spaces that have remained inactive or underutilized for years, transforming them into hubs for public services, urban revitalization, culture, and local activity.
With projects ranging from Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli to Chalkida, Stylida, and the historic Karya Station, GAIAOSE implements a productive and effective policy for managing public railway assets, with a focus on sustainable development, the daily lives of citizens, and the needs of the Greek regions.
Within this framework and during the first months of 2026, GAIAOSE is already implementing a series of partnerships in various regions of the country:
Collaboration with the Municipality of Thessaloniki to create a public parking lot
In Thessaloniki, where major infrastructure projects have significantly increased traffic pressure in the city center, GAIAOSE has entered into a land concession agreement with the Municipality of Thessaloniki.
The company granted a plot of approximately two acres at the Commercial Railway Station, across from the Courthouse, so that the Municipality of Thessaloniki could develop and operate a temporary parking area to meet the increased traffic needs resulting from infrastructure projects, particularly the Flyover.
The contract has a maximum duration of three (3) years or until the completion of the Flyover, while the Municipality will undertake the development and operation of the site with an emphasis on safety, functionality, and public benefit.
This initiative provides an immediate solution during a particularly challenging period for the city’s operations, helping to better serve residents and visitors.
Lease agreement with the Municipality of Alexandroupoli
In Alexandroupolis, GAIAOSE entered into a lease agreement with the Municipality of Alexandroupolis for an uncovered area of 1.5 acres within the broader grounds of the Alexandroupolis Railway Station, with a term of ten (10) years.
The site will serve as a complement to the municipal facilities housed in the port’s historic warehouses, meeting the area’s operational needs while contributing to its overall revitalization.
Through this collaboration, a space that had remained inactive is being functionally reintegrated into the city’s urban fabric, now serving the local community and municipal functions.
Collaboration with the Municipality of Stylida for the urban revitalization of the area
In Stylida, GAIAOSE and the Municipality are undertaking a broader urban revitalization initiative through the development of properties managed by the company within the municipality’s administrative boundaries.
The collaboration involves land and buildings at the Stylida Railway Station and in the Agia Marina area, with the aim of reactivating unused spaces and improving the area’s appearance and functionality.
At the Stylida Railway Station, plans call for the redevelopment and aesthetic enhancement of an open area of approximately 9 acres, while in Agia Marina, Stylida, plans call for the redevelopment of a corresponding area of approximately 7 acres.
At the same time, the lease to the Municipality of two buildings that have been inactive for years, with a total area of 360 square meters, is proceeding; these buildings will be returned to functional use to meet the needs of the Municipality and the local community.
The redevelopment projects will be implemented by the Municipality of Stylida, with respect for the railway character of the properties and the preservation of their historical identity.
Collaboration with the Technical Chamber of Greece, focusing on Chalkida
Following the lease of three buildings at the Orestiada Railway Station to the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) to meet its housing needs, GAIAOSE signed a new lease agreement with the TEE, with a term of fifteen (15) years, for the lease of an open area of 6.1 acres and three buildings with a total area of 700 square meters, near the Chalkida Railway Station.
The buildings are to be renovated and utilized to house the TEE’s services in the area, bringing infrastructure that had remained unused for years back into use.
This initiative strengthens the operational presence of an important scientific institution in the Region and contributes to the gradual revitalization of the area surrounding the Chalkida Railway Station.
Transfer of the Karya Railway Station to the Ministry of Culture
Beyond urban and social revitalization initiatives, GAIAOSE is also pursuing initiatives related to the preservation of historical and cultural heritage.
In this context, it has transferred the use of the Karya Railway Station and its surrounding area to the Ministry of Culture for 30 years.
The Station, designated as a historic site, is linked to the memory of the Holocaust and is a place of particular significance for collective historical consciousness.
Through this initiative, the preservation and promotion of a historic site of particular significance is ensured, with the aim of transforming it into a place of remembrance and historical knowledge for future generations.
GAIAOSE CEO Panagiotis Balomenos, commenting on the partnerships, stated the following:
“Our goal is for inactive railway sites and infrastructure to be returned to the public through uses that provide real benefits for daily life and local communities.
For GAIAOSE, the utilization of railway real estate is not limited to infrastructure and properties. It involves creating new public uses, revitalizing areas in the Greek regions, and restoring spaces that have remained dormant for years to an active role for cities and citizens.
Through partnerships with local government and institutional bodies, we seek not only to increase the company’s revenue and the value of its assets, but also to drive initiatives with a social impact that combine functionality, sustainable development, and respect for the historical identity of each region.”