E. Kavazidou as a representative of ESAI EN ROI in the annual gathering of the Friends of Thessaloniki's Rail Museum Association & perspectives of cooperation

Cultural Heritage, ESAI EN ROI Social Engagement, and Sustainable Urban Development in Western Thessaloniki

With great pleasure, we attended on Sunday, 16 February 2026, 10:30 a.m. the New Year’s cake-cutting ceremony of the Association Friends of the Thessaloniki Railway, which—due to adverse weather conditions—was held inside the historic Orient Express carriages at the Thessaloniki Railway Museum. The venue was filled to capacity with members, friends, and a large number of visitors, clearly demonstrating strong support for the Association’s request to upgrade the Museum.

The representative of ESAEI EN ROI referred to the recent collaboration with the Association of Friends of the Thessaloniki Railway Museum within the framework of the Green Velocity – Crash the Habits campaign, which was implemented with great success during the summer. As part of the initiative, volunteers visited the Museum, raising questions and engaging in meaningful dialogue on issues related to railway safety and the prevention of train accidents. Building on this presence and the positive experience of the collaboration, ESAEI EN ROI expressed its interest in hosting a Green Friday activity at the Museum at a later stage.

The cake was blessed by Father Polykarpos, a member of the Association, while greetings were sent by the representative of the Prime Minister, Mr. Giannis Papageorgiou.Among those who honored the event with their presence were Members of Parliament Mr. D. Kouvelas and PASOK MP Mr. Petros Pappas, as well as representatives of institutions, OSE employees and retirees, cultural associations, publishing houses, and local government.

ESAEI EN ROI, represented by Eleni Kavazidou, consistently supports initiatives that highlight cultural heritage and contribute to the upgrading of Western Thessaloniki. The active participation and collaboration of so many stakeholders strengthen the shared vision of a Railway Museum that is open to society, with an educational and developmental role.