OASA

The Athens transit company, OASA, has updated its website, which now also includes a special section for visitors to the Greek capital who are not familiar with the company's services and ticket options.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Kostas A. Karamanlis said Thursday that he is considering making the use of surgical masks on public transport mandatory when the government starts easing some of the restrictions introduced last month to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Athens public transportation schedules will be reduced in non-peak times to reflect coronavirus restrictions that have led to an 80 pct drop in passenger use, manager company OASA said on Monday.

Transport authorities are on high alert following the recent spate of attacks targeting buses and trains.

On Tuesday night unknown assailants threw an object at a passing train near Petralona station on the ISAP electric railway, lightly injuring a female passenger in the eye.

The Greek capital's public transport operator OASA announced a 12.12 percent increase in revenues in July, when measures went into effect as part of a crackdown on fare dodging on buses, the Athens metro and the ISAP electric railway.

These measures included a ban on passengers boarding buses via the back door as well as the activation of ticket barriers at metro and ISAP stations.

Ticket revenues from buses in the Greek capital surged by up to 25 percent in the past month after the state-run operator clamped down on free riders by only letting passengers get on at the front.

Greek public transport operator OASA previously estimated that one in three bus passengers sneaked in through the back doors and dodged the few inspectors on duty.

OASA (Athens Urban Transit Organization) is inaugurating its presence in social media with a photography and video competition through its Facebook and Instagram pages entitled “Mesa” or “Way to Go!”