The Railway of Northwestern Greece was a Greek railway company founded in 1890. It combined land and sea transport and operated the railway line from Agrinio – Messolonghi – Kryoneri. In 1952, it went bankrupt and was taken over by the Greek State. Its operation was gradually run down.
This railway line was a project inspired by the Prime Minister Charilaos Trikoupis at the end of the 19th century. Among other things, it was intended to connect the region with the Peloponnese. The first section, from Messolonghi to Agrinio, was completed between 1888 and 1890. In 1891 it was extended to Kryoneri, so that the railway ran to a total of 61.4 km to Agrinio. From Kryoneri there was a connection to the railway network of the Peloponnese via steamships. The network, including the branches, included a total of six stations (Kryoneri, Messolonghi, Agrinio, Aitoliko, Stamna, Angelokastro) and eight stops (Galatas, Evinochori, Alykes, Kalyvia, Platanos, Dokimio, Neochori and Katochi). In 1943, an attempt was made to extend the network to Amfilochia, but it was not completed.
The station of Messolonghi was the largest, built in 1890 in the area of the former eastern part of the fortification wall from where the Exodus was made and in the moat. In this area there stood the Louneta and the bastions of Kokkinis, Makris, Rigas and Montalbertos, the materials of which were used for the station’s construction. Much later, in 1940, a 2.5-kilometre-long railway link was built between the station around the perimeter and the port, and then on until it reached the central square of the town. It was reopened between 1954 and 1970, but was then closed down for good.
The buildings of the station are currently located about 80-200 meters east of the gate in the wall. They have been registered as works of art and historical buildings, requiring special state protection. They include the main building, the engine house and the railway station’s guardhouse.
The main building was two-storey, built in the Neoclassical Italian style, with the stonework left visible. In the yard there was a repair factory, engine room, carriage maintenance depot, material and luggage stores and a café. Today it houses the Environmental Education Centre of Messolonghi, which is distinguished for its rich action, which include awareness-raising activities for pupils and adults on environmental protection, educational programmes, seminars and workshops, while an extensive library of printed material exists. In order to attend the activities, it is necessary to contact and consult the Centre in advance for their schedules.
Address: Odysseas Elytis Street (former OSE Station) Dimitriou Mouzopoulou – Messolonghi 302 00
Opening hours: Daily until 3:00 p.m. (except Saturday and Sunday)
Telephone: 2631 023048
Website: http://kpemesol.sch.gr/
The engine room complex has been renovated in the past and is now the Trikoupeio Cultural Centre, which is used for various events such as exhibitions, lectures and film screenings. It has an exhibition hall and an event hall. Today, the Municipality of Messolonghi is carrying out a restoration project of the complex, so that it can be returned to the public with an increased range of uses.
Address: End of Vlachopoulou Street, 302 00, Measslonghi
Telephone: 26310 25631
