The Rack Railway, Diakopto-Kalavrita, an amazing journey
The Diakopto – Kalavrita Rack Railway is a tourist attraction. It’s a train that can reach high altitudes and operate on steep grades, through territories of unique interest and spectacular views.
With an unparalleled journey that lasts for about one hour and starts from Diakopto, the rack railway runs through the gorge of Vouraikos and the village of Zachlorou, ending up in Kalavrita. The train covers the 22 kilometer journey, traveling at a speed of 30-40km/h when moving along the regular rack and 6-15km/h when moving along the toothed racks.
The railway network is toothed on steep gradients.
The classification of the railway as “Rack” or “Cog” comes from the cog wheels these trains use that mesh in the rack rail, helping them to operate on steep grades.
The train features special pinions inside the wheels, used when the steep gradient increases and latch on the rail, both during the ascent and the descent.
| Timetable | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Departures from Diakopton | Departures from Kalavrita | ||||
|
Itinerary |
Time | Itinerary | Time | ||
|
1330 |
09:52 | 1331 | 11:04 | ||
|
1332 |
12:17 | 1333 | 13:37 | ||
|
1336 |
15:07 | 1337 | 16:45 | ||
Additional services on the Odontotos Rack Railway are operated on Saturdays and Sundays:
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From Diakopto 18:05, arrival in Kalavrita 19:12
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From Kalavrita 19:20, arrival in Diakopto 20:27
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Tickets may be purchased at physical sale points of Hellenic Train.
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Furthermore, there is the possibility of ticketing via Hellenic Train website: tickets.hellenictrain.gr up to 10 minutes before the departure of the train, as well as via the mobile application.
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For more information, those interested can contact at the Travel Office, email: traveloffice@hellenictrain.gr
Special phone line for tourist trains
Diakopto - Kalavrita (Rack Rail)
Ano Lechonia - Milies (Pelion Train)
Katakolo - Olympia (Ancient Olympia)
You may call +30 2130121010 (07:00-21:00 Monday to Sunday)
The movement of people with mobility disabilities is possible in Odontotos. Special machines (dock lifts) operate at the Stations of Diakopto and Kalavrita as well as a specially designed position in the intermediate vehicle of the train, allow the smooth and safe movement of people using a wheelchair.
More information on the movement of passengers with mobility disabilities can be found on the relevant website of the Hellenic Train: Movement of people with disabilities
Learn about the «Kalavrita City Pass» package and check out its special price.
- SPECIAL OFFER: KALAVRYTA CITY PASS
- 120 years of travelling
The Journey
The train covers a distance of 22 kilometers and reaches an altitude of 750 meters. The journey lasts for approximately one hour, departs from Diakopto and terminates in Kalavryta, with an intermediate stop in Megalo Spilaio.
It passes through the gorge next to Vouraikos River that creates small and bigger waterfalls and natural pools. In fact, in the location Katarraktis the river plunges impetuously and almost vertically under the railway bridge.
The next stop is the location Dikastiria. This place was named after the small semicircular cave, where the stalactites have created a wondrous scenery that resembles a courtroom.
When you reach Kalavryta, you will realize the reason behind the town’s well chosen name, since “Kala Vryta” literally translates to “Good Waters”. And there is certainly an abundance of that!
The amazing route of Odontotos in the Vouraikos gorge.
Beyond its natural beauty, the town of Kalavryta is a historical place, since this is where, in the monastery of Agia Lavra, the 1821 Greek Revolution was initiated. It’s also a land of fairly recent martyrdom, with the memory of the German Occupation and the holocaust still very much present. It was December 13, 1943 when the German troops executed almost the entire male population and then burned the little town to the ground. This was recorded as one of the major atrocities of World War II.
Today, Kalavryta, preserving its historical significance, as well as natural beauty, is a very popular and important tourist destination.
The ski center of Kalavryta is known as one of the biggest in Greece and as one of the two in the world that combine ski in the mountains and swimming in the beach of Diakopto, located only 20 kilometers away.
- Tickets may be purchased at physical sale points of Hellenic Train.
- Furthermore, there is the possibility of ticketing via Hellenic Train website: tickets.hellenictrain.gr up to 10 minutes before the departure of the train, as well as via the mobile application.
