The trial over the 2023 train crash in Greece that claimed 57 lives began on Monday in Larissa, central Greece, with 36 defendants, including railway employees, Greek media reported.
On February 28, 2023, a head-on collision between a freight train and a passenger train on the main line between Athens and Thessaloniki killed 57 people, most of them students. This is the deadliest rail accident in Greece’s history. The tragedy sparked widespread public outrage and protests, with governments in recent years accused of delaying the implementation of necessary rail safety systems. Relatives of the victims have also accused authorities of attempting to cover up evidence.
During the proceedings, which are expected to be lengthy, the court will determine the responsibility of the accused for the head-on collision between the two trains.
The online edition of Kathimerini reported that due to the large number of participants, the trial is being held in a specially equipped hall at the University of Thessaly in Larissa. Members of trade unions, student organizations, political parties, non-governmental organizations, and citizens gathered in protest, carrying banners calling for justice and safer transport.
A total of 352 witnesses are expected to testify in the case, which may last more than two years. Survivors and relatives of the victims, as well as around 250 lawyers, will also take part in the proceedings, highlighting their scale and complexity, Kathimerini said.
Tovima.gr reported that those standing trial include the station chief on duty in Larissa on the night of the crash, who directed the two trains onto the same track, colleagues who allegedly left their posts early, as well as other employees of the railway infrastructure companies Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) and its subsidiary ERGOSE, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transportation, and rail operator Hellenic Train, among others.
Local media note that the defendants face charges that could lead to life sentences. None of the accused is currently in custody, although some had been detained before the trial. No political figures are among those on trial.
The Panhellenic Federation of Railway Employees called a 24-hour strike on Monday, describing it as “an act of collective memory, protest and democratic vigilance”.