EU Railway Experts to Visit Athens and Offer Safety Knowhow

Experts from the European Council and the European Union Agency for Railways will be visiting Athens this week in order to provide Greece with knowhow and assessment following last week’s deadly head-on collision of two trains in Tempi, Central Greece, which killed 57 passengers and left dozens injured and unaccounted for.

The announcement comes after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen contacted Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss providing additional technical support following the country’s request. She said the EU can provide Greece with guidance so that it will swiftly move ahead with the much-needed modernization of its railway system and safety.

Von der Leyen also announced the arrival in Athens of representatives from the European Council and the European Union Agency for Railways.

“This morning I discussed with PM Mitsotakis further technical support that the EU can provide to Greece to modernize its railways and improve their safety. Commission and ERA railway experts will travel this week to Athens. Rail safety is paramount,” she said via her twitter account.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during their meeting in Sofia last October. Photo source: Greek Prime Minister’s Office / Dimitris Papamitsos

On his part, Mitsotakis welcomed the news adding that Greece was determined to tap into all available resources to ensure the safety of the railway network and of train transport.

Via his twitter account, the Greek PM expressed his gratitude for the EU’s “swift response to our request. We are determined to mobilize all resources available. We are glad we can count on our European partners for assistance”.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, Government Spokesperson Yiannis Economou confirmed that the prime minister had requested the restructuring of the Greek railways, mainly in the area of safety.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the 59-year-old stationmaster accused of being responsible for the worst train collision in Greek history, was charged with negligent homicide and jailed pending trial.

On the same day, Mitsotakis apologized via Facebook. “I owe everyone, and above all the victims’ relatives, a big apology, both personal and on behalf of all who governed the country for many years. It is indeed inconceivable in 2023 that two trains can move in opposite directions on the same track without anyone being aware. We cannot, we do not want to, and we should not hide behind human error,” he said, admitting that “if the telecontrol project had been completed, this accident would have been practically impossible”.