It was used to carry lignite from the underground coal mines, which were located inland, to the electric power station.

The network was in regular operation until 1988, when the power station was converted to burn heavy fuel oil and the mines were closed down.

One of the Nippon Saryo locomotives survives in excellent condition and is used at Velestino by EMOS, a preservation society operating on an abandoned section of Thessaly Railways.

In addition to the public rail network, industries the area were served by a dedicated 900 mm (2 ft 11+7⁄16 in) gauge mine railway, which connected the two major lignite mining areas (Northern field and Western field) to the industrial consumers.

The network used twelve electric Bo-Bo locomotives (type EL 4 made in Germany) of 760 kilowatts (1,020 hp) and four B shunters.