How about cycling on abandoned rail tracks, enjoying the scenery, the unique view of the Saronic Gulf and stories about the mythical Skiron and the German machine guns of WWII in the famous Kakia Skala near Megara?
If the thought excites you, follow the alternative tourism company “Railbiking in Greece”, which is the first in the country to offer the unique experience of riding specially designed pedal-powered railroad carts, on the old metric railway that used to connect Athens with the Peloponnese, through a region of unrivalled beauty and great history, from antiquity to the present day.
Railbiking is a peculiar fusion of cycling and trains with a passionate fan club all over the world. By combining exercise, recreation and learning, railbiking further contributes to the preservation and reclamation of abandoned or inactive railway networks, located in areas of outstanding natural beauty, which often feature sites of great importance, where access by car is usually impossible.
Railbiking is a new and alternative form of tourism, particularly family-friendly. In addition, it is suitable for people of all ages, as well as for people with disabilities.
Railbiking in Kakia Skala
For centuries, Kakia Skala, the rocky and steep coastal area in the western part of the Gerania Mountains, between the Megara plain and Kineta, was associated with the word “hardship”. It is no coincidence that, according to mythology, the Corinthian bandit Skiron, who had become the fear and terror of passers-by until Theseus taught him a lesson, had his lair in these lands.
At the end of the 19th century, a metric railway line connecting Athens with Patras and the entire Peloponnese was constructed with sweat and toil at the passage of Kakia Skala. The line was in service until the late 1990s, when the new state-of-the-art line was built to the north of the old one. As a result, the network was abandoned and in many places looted. However, in recent years the company “Railbiking in Greece”, which consists of young people who love bicycles and trains and are very familiar with the old metric network in the area of Kakia Skala, has been promoting railbiking tourism in all its stages, from the construction of the pedal-powered railroad carts, to tourism marketing and promotional activities. The headquarters of “Railbiking in Greece” are located in Megara.
The company’s team will be waiting for you at the old railway station of Megara, a building of particular historical and architectural value dating back to 1885, when the route Skaramanga – Corinth was put into service. Later, this route was extended to both ends, to Piraeus and Patras. The station, now used for cultural purposes, is located almost in the centre of Megara and is easily accessed via Olympia Odos, a toll motorway system.
You will first be informed about the route and what you are about to see, as well as the contribution of the railway to the industrial history of the area. Then you will sit comfortably in your seats, after a short demonstration of how to operate the pedal-powered railroad cart, which is stabilised by four wheels on rails and therefore does not require balance, as is the case with classic bicycles. They are completely safe, but there is also an immediate shut-off mechanism just in case. In terms of speed, they are the same as conventional bikes.
You set off on your route, under the supervision of a company representative, cycling southwest and crossing the railway bridge, over the new “Olympia Odos”, to then move almost alongside the old National Road Athens – Corinth.
Unique views – Unique experience
The route along the steep coastal area of Kakia Skala will impress you. While you stand gawping at the endless blue of the Saronic Gulf dotted with little boats, steep cliffs tower above your head. Captivated by the breath-taking view that reaches as far as the island of Salamina, you feel like Skiron might suddenly emerge from some hidden cavity, beckoning.
According to mythology, Skiron used to live in Kakia Skala. Carrying an axe, Skiron would make passers-by wash his feet. As soon as they bent down, he would kick them and they would fall off the rocks. On the shore below, there was a huge sea turtle waiting to devour Skiron’s victims. Such was his reputation that Ancient Greeks called the area “Skironides Petres” after his name. It was Theseus who managed to throw Skiron over the cliff and relieve all travellers from his presence.
Apart from the imposing view, there are many sites and attractions along the way that will impress you; the half-ruined stations and the “outposts” of the former SPAP (Piraeus – Athens – Peloponnese Railways), the abandoned lime factory –with its impressive lime kiln- in Stika, the fish farms, as well as the many stone “pillboxes” of the World War II. The German occupation forces built these stone forts to protect the railway line and to control the narrow strategic passage between the Peloponnese and Attica. At some point, the route goes alongside the new ultra-modern railway. You will most probably see the Suburban railway pass by and maybe even whistle “hello”. Higher up the new motorway of Olympia Odos, with its large tunnels and intense lighting at night. Literally, at this point, the old road and railway network “meets” with the modern one. Yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The length of the route is 7.5 km, 15 km in total including the return to Megara, and it is really easy. There will be stops along the route, during which the “Railbiking in Greece” crew will answer any questions you may have. Stops take place at selected locations with benches and stunning views. The tour lasts from 2 to 2 and a half hours and prices start from 20 euros, while there are special offers for families with children.
The vision of “Railbiking in Greece”
Railbiking tourism has been developing for decades abroad, where entire disused railway networks have been transformed into railbiking “parks”, with bike rentals and tours of scenic locations. Among the countries where this form of tourism is growing are Germany, Belgium, New Zealand, the Fiji islands and some states in the USA.
“Railbiking in Greece” was the first company to introduce this kind of activity in the country and to build vehicles according to the Greek conditions, which can move quickly and safely on the old metric network of SPAP. These are low-seating pedal-powered railroad carts, which are lightweight, easy to transport and easy to assemble.
Artemios Filatov, the mastermind of “Railbiking in Greece”, talks to travel.gr
It all started with the love of a young nurse, Artemios Filatov, for bikes and the railway –as part of the country’s industrial history. As he says, railbiking is a well-rounded alternative tourism proposal, reclaiming, highlighting and preserving abandoned railway networks, which are usually looted by metal hunters. Starting from scratch, without any expertise, he managed to manufacture “made in Greece” pedal-powered railroad carts.
Unbelievable as it may sound, given the eternal Greek bureaucracy, OSE took an interest in the “Railbiking in Greece” project, providing solutions that contributed decisively to the promotion of the activity by leasing to the company part of the network in the area of Kakia Skala.
The aim of “Railbiking in Greece” is to transform the 8 km of the leased network into a railbiking park, which will combine physical activity, recreation and learning with the preservation of the old metric railway, highlighting it as part of the country’s recent industrial history.
Inactive rail networks exist in the Peloponnese, Thessaly and Western Macedonia, mainly due to the economic crisis, but also in Attica, such as the old metric line which has been abandoned due to the new line layout. These networks could be utilised for railbiking activities, preventing them from being looted by “metal hunters” who plunder them causing serious damage.
Due to the pandemic of Covid-19 the program of “Railbiking in Greece” is constantly modified. Follow the company’s Facebook and Instagram pages to be informed about its program and activities.
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