A criminal trial has opened in Greece regarding the train collision that killed 57 people, many of them students, in February 2023. The crash, near Tempe in northern Greece, occurred when a passenger train was directed onto the wrong track, colliding with an oncoming freight train. Investigators cite non-functioning signal systems, staffing failures, and delayed safety upgrades as contributing factors.
The trial, held in Larissa, involves 36 defendants including rail officials, station masters, transport ministry staff, and former executives of Hellenic Train. Hundreds of witnesses are expected to testify over the course of the two-year proceedings. Riot police secured the court as demonstrations took place, with victims’ families seeking justice for their losses.
The disaster sparked public protests and strikes, with many criticizing the government’s response and accusing it of shifting blame onto rail officials. A makeshift memorial exists outside parliament in Athens, displaying the names of the victims. Separate legal cases are also underway, including a parliamentary probe into political accountability.