Domokos is a small mountainous town located at central Greece, at Fthiotis municipality, with a population of 1600. Just two to three kilometres off the town the small station is located. Traffic passenger here is ocassional and generally low. So, why does this station really matters? It is located on the main line from Athens to Thessaloniki, the most important rail artery of Greece, which is undergoing vast reconstruction. Due to this fact it is the point where the electrified section of the mainline to Thessaloniki begins. The rest of the route to Athens is non electrified and a new double, electrified line is under construction next to the old, single line that trains use now. Thus all trains travelling on the mainline have to change their traction locomotive there. Here, the ADtranz/ Bombardier 2880 hp diesel electric engines come "face to face" with the Siemens HellasSprinter 6900 hp electric ones. Extra locomotives are located here as reserves, in case of locomotive failures on the mainline.
Domokos station, on the left ADtranz diesel electric loco 220032 and on the right Siemens HellasSprinter 120007 arrives hauling IC 57, ready to change locomotives
In the near future there will be no need for a locomotive change anywhere, because the new high speed mainline will be fully electrified. For now, though, it is a pleasure to see this "battle' each time a train arrives for a locomotive change. Diesel traction has millions of enthousiasts among the world of railfans (myself included) but electric traction is also impressive, cleaner, faster, more cost efficient and is definitely the future!
The question, diesel traction or electric traction for a train? The answer, both are here, pick up and have fun!
Two modern engines, two different types of rail traction, both serving the Greek railways
Here is the video i took including all the activity at the station...
All the pictures above were kindly borrowed from my brother's archive (KostasG). Thank you, brother!
