The Old Railway Station of Thessaloniki

At the building complex of the Old Railway Station, at the junction of today’s Stathmou Street and 26th October Street in Thessaloniki, operated the Thessaloniki-Polis Station (Salonique Ville). The station building was constructed around 1900 and was initially used as the residence of the Director of the Oriental Railways. It later housed various services of the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE). The station holds particular significance as a site of living memory for the thousands of Thessaloniki’s Jews who were transported from there in train wagons to the Nazi death camps. Near the Old Railway Station was also the Hirsch Camp, the final gathering place for the city’s Jewish population before their deportation.Despite its historical value, the building was at risk of demolition due to plans for expanding the city’s western entrance. Fortunately, in 1997, a decision was made not to demolish it, but instead to relocate it approximately 40 meters to the south, to the intersection of Paleou Stathmou and Voutyra Stavrou Streets. This allowed for the expansion project while preserving the building. Today, it is used as a freight station. Pictured: The square of Thessaloniki’s Old Railway Station in 1907. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.