With justice for the victims of the Tempi train disaster as their primary demand, thousands of protesters gathered today (Wednesday) in front of the Greek Parliament in Syntagma Square and throughout Athens’ central streets. Demonstrators continue to arrive, amplifying their call for accountability.
The rally includes social organizations, professional associations, trade unions, pensioners’ groups, and student organizations, all united in their demand for answers and consequences regarding the tragic train collision.
It is noteworthy that similar rallies took place in other cities and towns throughout Greece.
What happened in Tempi
It is recalled that on February 28, 2023, a tragic head-on collision occurred between two trains south of the Tempi Valley in Greece.
The collision involved the InterCity 62 (IC62) passenger train and an intermodal freight train, resulting in the loss of at least 57 lives, among an official count of 342 passengers. Several factors contributed to the accident, including the failure to implement the European Train Control System (ETCS) as originally scheduled for 2020, with its deployment delayed until late 2023.
Additionally, in 2019, telematics in Larissa ceased functioning due to a summer wildfire and remained unresolved. This collision marked a tragic culmination following a series of other rail incidents that fortunately had no casualties.
Source: ANA-MPA, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas, Photos: EUROKINISSI
