DISAPPOINTED by Train Station in ATHENS? (Greek TRAINs need work!)

trains in Athens Greece need work! checked out the trains in Athens. I was wondering how the train system is in Athens Greece. I was expecting the train system in Athens Greece to be AMAZING since it's a major tourist destination. I came to the main railway station in Athens Greece and was disappointed because my Expectations were TOO HIGH.
The railway station is Athens is good enough. I hope this does not come across as a negative video. All that happened in this video is my expectations were too high and reality did not match our expectations. I mean, wouldn't You think of Athens train station to be a little bigger than this? This is Greece! They make Billions from tourists.
I hope you enjoy the video.
Thank you for watching!

[@gpan62]

The Greek train system has been going through lots of changes over the last decade. OSE, the Greek train company was bought by Trenitalia, the Italian train company. They've changed from 1 metre gauge track to standard gauge (wider). This involved many tunnels and bridges. It's being electrified - Athens to Thessaloniki is electrified. Athens to Patra is in the process of being electrified. Much of the track in Athens is in the process of being rebuilt underground, as is the track in and near Patra.

[@EvanRamani]

Sounds like it is getting better and better! good to hear

[@chrisnissyreos1039]

@@EvanRamani not really. The main problem is that the infrastructure is being managed by the government but the trains by trainitalia. That means that bcs the one is public nad the other is private there is a lot of competition between them...

[@hopejenm1]

Greece economy is fucked by EU and loans no money and Italian company took trains never invested money they initially promised

[@iliriacum666]

Oh...Italian bought it..good luck brothers...ofc mafia needs their part...Italy has a shitty system for itself how come want to build for Greece one

[@rozaliyaokwubor1820]

Well it looks not so nice at the station and inside of the train but the trip has compensated for all the inconveniences bcz the view all through the entire journey was amazingly stunning 😍 🇬🇷 all the nature lovers would love this country it was a great adventure overall 😀

[@alexzann111]

I suppose you have never been to Berlin

[@Thanos_Kyriakopoulos]

The old train station you showed was one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe, but it turned into a ghetto after being abandoned. If you could see it working from the inside, it had wooden ticket booths with a giant old clock, marble waiting rooms with cast iron fireplaces, whenever I went in I thought I was in the Orient express. The new train station is very average and boring, I wish they could transfer the old one in the place of the new one, or they could make the new one look like the old one.

[@EvanRamani]

Dude, Greece is one the greatest! I hope they do as you suggest. Seems like the train station was amazing. I'm sure they will take care of it eventually. Most Greek people are smart af and they love their country. That is awesome, imo. It's the most beautiful country I've been to. Didn't explore enough. I hope i can come back soon! Had the best time there! Much love!

[@Mapleclinicindirapuram]

Your coverage shows us the real picture..After d Larisso accident it's shows us what u were trying so hard, but looks like our Greece friends just did not like it ...

[@EvanRamani]

I am so sorry to hear about that! So heartbreaking!! The victims were mostly students too. What a tragedy! They lost their lives and their parents are now suffering. So sad!! Prayers!

[@chrsf589]

Ya I was disappointed many times. However Greece is investing 3.3 Billion in railways So I would expect it to improve greatly

[@tomdexter5029]

The commentary in the video is very amateurish. Where are you guys from and which countries have you guys visited in your life? Greece and Ukraine and...? The repeated reference to the billions of tourism revenue does indicate that you are somehow jealous and mocking. There is constructive criticism and then there is shit.

[@EvanRamani]

Jealous? Why? I love Greece. I was just surprised. My expectations for the train station were too high. The trains were great. The train station needs work. That's all. Greece is one of my fav countries. Had a blast there! Wish the Greeks nothing but the best!

[@zeljkokaradzic7894]

But really,what do you do with all the money?

[@tomdexter5029]

@@zeljkokaradzic7894 I'm not Greek. I'm Indian. But I have been to Greece and also know its politics, corruption and the state of the economy. The money, which you assume, does not come to the state. The tourism industry enjoys tax incentives (so fewer receivables to the government), businesses (both big and small) hide revenues in general and, therefore, pay lesser tax. The tourism that Greece attracts is not always of the rich and famous kind. Same is true for Spain. Mass tourism dominates. The visitors don't spend a lot, except in a couple of islands. Then there is also a degraded industrial climate. To top it all, Greece joined the Euro club when it was not really prepared for it. Its government borrowed a lot of cheap loans from the American, German and French financial institutions pre-2008 and could not repay when the 2008 crisis struck and the American and German institutions and the EU imposed austerity and stripped them of the assets (Ports, Airports, Highways for example). The government had no money to invest in top class infrastructure. Life is not as easy as traveling and making KZbin videos, isn't it? Not everyone is born with a golden spoon. By the way, have you seen how the infrastructure and the railway systems are in the rich Germany now? Disappointing. Why? The governments there ran a surplus budget for years and under invested in the economy.

[@zeljkokaradzic7894]

@@tomdexter5029 Thank you for well thought explanation.Makes more sense now:)

[@vaggelisnikitaras5329]

You have to check out the new trains they got (etr 470’s) they are way faster newer and comfortable!

[@EvanRamani]

i'll check it out when i get back to amazing Greece! Is the government doing more to maintain the train system after the crash in Feb? I hope that kind of disaster is not repeated. so tragic!

[@vaggelisnikitaras5329]

@@EvanRamani after the incident the government announced that they are going to scrap all the older trains and buy new ones like the etr’s that i me mentioned before. They also said that the maintenance of the tracks has already started. So that’s all and thank you so much for replying!

[@EvanRamani]

@@vaggelisnikitaras5329 i'm glad to hear that. Greek people deserve the best! Thanks for letting me know!

[@yudzin88]

I was in Athens at during the Olympics in 2004. And the city was clean, shining and polished, with new metro and with fans all around the world. Even all ruined buildings were covered with Olympic cloth. When I returned 4 years ago Athens was the shadow of it former self. Dirty, neglected, full of homeless people and migrants. Like night and day difference. Personally I never used trains in Greece. Guess they are still in debt crisis and this pandemic hit them really hard when it comes to tourism.

[@EvanRamani]

Most of the city center is beautiful. It's just the train system. I was surprised to see that this part was like left off. How did you like Athens? They have the best yogurts here but i gotta say, their pastries are lacking. They got amazing pies but the other stuff is too dry. Simits are amazing here too though. Did you get to try their sweets?

[@yudzin88]

@@EvanRamani Athens is a beautiful ancient city, on a great place. I like that there are no skyscrapers in the center because nothing can overshadow the Acropolis. That is such a cool concept. The most interesting thing to me, after Olympic games, was archeological museum. And about food, I can only single out Gyros! lol Way better than shawarma or doner in my opinion. Moussaka, souvlaki, their meatballs and sea food were also good. Dairy products were ok, but Bulgarian ones are way better. And their pastry and sweets were totally forgettable, I can only remember eating their halva and Delta ice creams. How come you ended up in Greece? lol I did not expect you to go there. This is such a touristy place, not in your style at all. lol

[@EvanRamani]

​@@yudzin88 you're right about skyscrapers. They would have ruined the place. It is so beautiful. Outside of Athens it is even more beautiful. Greece is such a beautiful country! Mountains and sea. Gyros are everywhere here. I tried one so far but it wasn't that good. I gotta try more. ya, Athens is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too touristy. it's like impossible to live here. it's not built for longer stays. My Ukrainian visa ended almost and i had to pick a spot quick. I was gonna go to Georgia or Poland but Poland has a 8 day quarantine even if u get a test i think. but, i'm leaving soon. I did go to Patras (3rd largest city in Greece) with Rozaliya. That was a beautiful town but it was all students. It was weird how many of the businesses there were trying so hard to be gender neutral and accepting of whatever you identify yourself as. You would see weird pictures in the bathroom in some businesses. that was strange.

[@yudzin88]

@@EvanRamani I have been across all Greece. It is way touristy, I don't like that too. Maybe is a little less touristy in the Ionian side. I have never been in Patras, but gender neutral nonsense even in Greece?! Please God save us... this world is fucked beyond repair. If you have a chance go see Meteora monasteries, it is out of this world literally. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aojbYn2heN-ModE Where are you going next?

[@EvanRamani]

@@yudzin88 Meteora monasteries look ridiculously amazing! Thanks for the suggestion! and ya, that gender neutral and you choose your gender stuff surprised me. They def don't have to put that stuff in bathrooms. it was annoying for a second. I wanted to go north in Greece and eventually Macedonia or Bulgaria but Bulgaria is closed. I'm talking to the host...to get out sooner of my Airbnb lol. Athens is amazing to see but def not a place to stay long. It's made for tourist...just a few days, you know? Uzebekistan ticket is expensive from Europe. I'll go there later. I have to learn a bit more Russian anyways. So, i will either be going to Georgia or Poland...if they are open to tourists. i have to check today. Georgia is know for good bread i think. I wonder if it will beat Serbia and Ukraine. Serbia's meat dishes have been #1 so far. Ukraine has been #1 in pastries i think. and vegetarian food goes to Turkey. This is just my experience so far. I didn't get to try everything though.

[@la_yeet1821]

Οργανισμός Συδιροδρόμον Ελλάδος ΟΣΕ Or in English Organization of Greek Railways

[@konstantinost2007]

Listen to that my friend Evan Ramani : I am from Greece and I am travelling with this train every summer to go to my holiday house. I have to tell you that the toilet has both, water and soap. For the water it has a button in yor right hand and the soap is in a device again on your right above the water button and in most cases is full. Thank you very much. Very good video, but be more observant the next time.

[@EvanRamani]

Ya, my bad Vaggelis. I love Greece. It is amazing. I stayed there a month and had some of the best time of my life. So many memories that i didn't film. It's the most beautiful place i've been to in my life. Way more beautiful than California. The people were Super friendly too. I hope i can come back again. I only seen Krete, Patra and Athens.

[@beautylife310]

Luckily, I don't plan to have anything luxurious there, as I would be more interested in its' ancient culture, architecture and landscape. But good to see it in advance, thanks for sharing!

[@EvanRamani]

Hope you have a blast! Lots to see. Some musts...Make sure you climb butkus mountain. Try their Pumpkin pie. it is amazing! Try LEGIT tsoureki (traditional Greek Bread). The other things are obvious if you do your research. Athens is AMAZING. You will have a blast. :)

[@beautylife310]

@@EvanRamani Thanks! Will check more of your videos in Greece :)

[@jacobdabish1948]

u can film a scary movie in that train station if you dim the lights

[@goatgamer001]

Bro going to greek train station is a big blunder. I wish it was better like other European countries...

[@EvanRamani]

it was alright. my expectations were just SO high cuz Greece has a great reputation. But, Greece has so much to offer. so, its not a big deal. The metro there is amazing. The dairy. The people. The bus system. The food. I'm sure they will take care of it eventually. Oh and the language is MAGIC. Greek music is #1!!!

[@jacobdabish1948]

pro tip get soap from the train next time so u can use it at the other place

[@EvanRamani]

lol. right.

[@hopejenm1]

Tu io need to press the button there to open water on wc mate u open your eyes

[@EvanRamani]

Hello, so, you're saying it doesn't need work? It's all fine?

[@manossyrmalis7273]

We don't use trains in Greece because there are so bad

[@goatgamer001]

We don't use them because we are not used to using them and because of underinvestment

[@Gk-ug6gu]

The InterCity rail system of Greece is fucked up from the very start of this project back to early-ish of 20th century since now. It's not a current issue. Otherwise the metro system of Athens is one of the best in Europe. Cheap, clean, modern and is like an open and free museum with so many exhibits in central stations like Acropolis. Imagine that we purchased old trains from Italian railways and we presented as brand new trains.

[@Gk-ug6gu]

Also I forgot to mention that the place where located the central station of InterCity trains in Athens is very poor and and degraded. It's like a softer version of Bronx

[@EvanRamani]

Ya, the metro is amazing here. I was expecting more of the train station since the center of Athens was so fancy, you know?

[@Gk-ug6gu]

@@EvanRamani Yes bro, I know. I'm very disappointed too. Look I think is Greek people fault this situation. Greeks don't interested to travel with train. Idk the reasons but everyone choose its private vehicle.

[@Pan472]

Except it was better some decades ago from what it is right now. As for the early 20th century, Greece had a lot more railways. Which were *functional.*

[@Pan472]

​@@Gk-ug6guThe Greeks? Φίλε, σοβαρά; Up until a few decades ago, everyone was travelling by train. Maybe you should put the blame to the governments, which shut down almost all railways. Almost all of Peloponnese's trains were shut down in the early 2000s, and before that, the governments systematically and purposefully degraded them in favour of the motorways. They did the same recently with the northern railway axes, which were also shut down.

[@hilmioguzhan8385]

Süper süper süper görünüyor tşkler

[@EvanRamani]

Thank you Hilmi! :)

[@jarryhaggard8648]

So weird, so many P**** ads in Athens 😂

[@EvanRamani]

lol. it was too weird. Too many in one small bathroom lol

[@Javy_Valen_Tain]

Nothing what I would expect

[@EvanRamani]

ya, me too. I thought it was going to be much nicer. But, oh well. The city center is ridiculously fancy though. I have a video of it. It's way too touristy though.

[@Javy_Valen_Tain]

@@EvanRamani post it soon buddy

[@natmaren989]

Ok. Greece surprised me. However, in Europe, greeks and italians have a reputation for being relaxed, a bit careless. These are not meticulous Germans and neat northerners.

[@EvanRamani]

That's true. people seem friendly and relaxed. But, i have only been here a bit. I don't know how people are here, especially since Athens is mostly tourists. :)

[@samanli-tw3id]

Italians are the guys who started the Renaissance.

[@mackjeez]

@@samanli-tw3id What are talking about? The renaissance was the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy, art, architecture, politics, mathematics, science and literature. This was jump started because of the Ottoman Empire conquest of Byzantine Greece, the intellectual elite of Byzantine Greece started to come with their families, by sea, to Venice, Florence and Rome. They (Greek scholars) brought thousands of manuscripts with them fearing they would be burned/destroyed by the Ottomans, because of their vast knowledge and experience they easily achieved academic jobs of the highest order teaching some of the greatest Latin minds of the time, it also helped that Cosmo de Medici support made everything possible. Marsilio Ficino stated that The Platonic Academy in Florence was a project started with Gemistos Plethon, the famous Platonist professor. Also The Florence Council (1438 - 1439) was a cultural revelation between two different civilizations. By the presence of the Byzantine intellectuals in Italy, the Latins experienced a new form of meditation on the world and on the purpose of life. In particular, the return to Greek culture and ancient ideas triggered the desire of freedom in the Quattrocento thinkers. Some revolutionary ideas have taken shape in the aristocratic houses of Tuscany, Venice and Rome. It happens that some groups of scholars gather around Byzantine masters, such as Theodore Gaza, George of Trebizond, John Argyropoulos, Janus Lascaris, Demetrius Chalcondyles, Bessarion among hundreds of others. Unfortunately as much as they introduced Greek culture back into the Latin world they quickly assimilated, most notably changing their Greek names to ones that are Latin in origin.