Construction of the Cyprus Government Railway started in May 1904 and after a short operating life the system steadily contracted until final closure came in 1951.
The first section from Famagusta to Nicosia – a distance of 37 miles - was opened on 21 October 1905 by the British High Commissioner, Sir Charles Anthony King-Harman.
Construction of the second section from Nicosia to Morphou – a distance of 24 miles – began in July 1905 and was opened on 31 March 1907.
Construction of the third section from Morphou to the line’s ultimate terminus at Evrykhou – a distance of 15 miles – began in November 1913 and was opened on 14 June 1915.
The final section had a short operating life of just 16 years with closure following when anti-colonialist unrest broke out across the island in 1931.
Exploration of traces of the former line is made difficult because it spans the two zones of today’s Cyprus. The majority of the line is in the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, while the final few miles to Evrykhou are in the Cypriot Republic.
There is a plan to turn the former Evrykhou Station building into a museum of the Cyprus Government Railways. It was planned to open the museum in 2009 and plans appear to have stalled.
Evrykhou Station is in very good condition having been recently restored and includes a short length of track by the former station platform.
See more pictures of Evrykhou Station.
