Inter-city buses
KTEL bus lines (ΚΤΕΛ) through Greece. Retail agencies by region, with the phone number, the agency site, to find the lines from Athens and region to all major cities. Athens 3 terminal stations are available: one serving the West and North West part, a party serving the Central and North, and a serving of Attica, the Athens area.
A unique choice for tourism in Greece
History of KTEL companies
1896
The first intercity bus that operated in Greece was made in France and it had 14 seats. It was considered huge for the time, as the rest of the buses had around 5-7 seats. At that time, to own and financially operate an intercity bus, all that was needed was a simple permit, issued by the police. Each bus was an independent private enterprise and the owners could operate in any area and on any route, according to their personal interests. The fare was determined freely, depending on passenger traffic or competition.
1920-25
It was at this time that the first laws on the circulation of intercity buses appeared, namely LD 24812/ September 1922 and PD 715/ October 1925.
1937-40
The first critical step for the organization of passenger transport was the founding of the first joint administrations for city and intercity buses. This progress was halted during World War II. In 1939, the total number of intercity buses in the country was 1,635 buses, with 27,767 seats. After the war, the development of bus transport resumed, because it developed rapidly, because the railway was destroyed and could serve only a few regions of the country, there was no passenger aviation and cars were the only means of ground transportation.
1952
Under Law 2119, KTEL companies were founded, one for each prefecture and each island. Thus, 104 KTEL joint ventures were in operation, 45 City και 59 Intercity. The fleet had 3,311 buses with 79,464 seats.
1968
After a decision of the Minister of Transport, the merger of all KTEL companies into 8 massive organizations of regional structure (KTEΥΛ) came into being.
1973
Then the SW is issued. 102/73 "on the organization of buses, cars and public passenger transport" and therefore the previous regime returns.
1984
On the basis of law 1437/84, a procedure has been initiated to separate the City KTEL companies from the interurban companies (article 24). The KTEL companies changed their legal status and became public limited companies (SA) under LAW 2963/2001. Today, there are 62 KTEL companies, with a fleet of 4,199 buses, which provide 80% of all passenger transport. The routes are decided and organized by decree of the prefect.
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