Three years after Greece's worst railway disaster in Tempe, safety improvements along the Athens-Thessaloniki route are incomplete, with significant gaps in service affecting several regions.
Three years have passed since the Tempe tragedy, which marked Greece's largest railway disaster, and the safety projects aimed at ensuring safe train operations on the Athens-Thessaloniki network are still unfinished. Meanwhile, various issues are identified on regional lines, leaving many cities, particularly in Central and Northern Greece, without adequate coverage. According to union representatives, the works necessary for the proper operation of systems have been completed only 70%-75% along the Athens-Thessaloniki route.
The president of the Panhellenic Association of Locomotive Personnel, Kostas Genidounias, emphasized that significant stretches of the 100-kilometer line from Lianokladi to Larissa are yet to be finished. This particular segment lacks both train control systems and signal lights, presenting severe risks for safe railway operation. Furthermore, infrastructure improvements initiated after the tragic accident were severely impacted by the flooding caused by Storm Daniel, further delaying any potential safety enhancements.
Consequently, the inadequacies in the railway system raise concerns about passenger safety and the government's commitment to addressing these critical infrastructure issues. With the ongoing delays, the fear remains that such tragedies could happen again if the necessary safety measures are not implemented promptly, underscoring the urgent need for governmental action and accountability in the wake of past failures.
