#40 GREECE Green Velocity - Crash the Habit: Μικρές Ιστορίες
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Παρακάτω παρατίθεται μία από τις 44 ιστοριούλες που απαρτίζουν τη συλλογή μαρτυριών από ατυχήματα σε στεριά, αέρα και θάλασσα 11 νεαρών ατόμων από διάφορα μέρη της Ευρώπης και του κόσμου.
ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ #40
ΣΙΔΗΡΟΔΡΟΜΙΚΕΣ ΓΡΑΜΜΕΣ
by Katerina Kalafati (Greek), European Solidarity Corps; ESAI EN ROI volunteer
ESC volunteering in teams DHIAfest campaign diffusion International Campaign
Greece|| Transportation Accident Stories
Supporting Organization: ESAI EN ROI
The Tempi Train Crash – February 28, 2023 (Near Larissa, Greece)
1. What Happened
On February 28, 2023, at around midnight, the intercity passenger train IC‑62 traveling from Athens to Thessaloniki collided head-on with a freight train near the Tempi valley, just outside Larissa. A total of 57 people died, including many students, and dozens were seriously injured eKathimerini+15Deutsche Welle+15Deutsche Welle+15Reddit+9Reuters+9Deutsche Welle+9.
2. The Fireball & Explosion
Upon collision, the trains struck overhead power pylons, generating electrical arcs that appear to have ignited a large spill of fuel or oil, producing a massive fireball — first around 40 m in diameter, then expanding to 80 m. Afterwards, three lingering fires burned intensely for up to an hour Wikipedia.HARSIA concluded that an unknown volatile fuel—possibly aromatic hydrocarbons—was involved, but due to contamination of the crash site, the exact cause remains unconfirmed GreekReporter.com+5eKathimerini+5Wikipedia+5.
3. Contributing Factors
A novice stationmaster at Larissa manually set the passenger train on the same track as the freight train, instead of using the automatic system, due to an overly complex control panel and lack of structured communication. He was overwhelmed and undertrained Reddit+6tovima.com+6ProtoThema English+6.
Long-term systemic deficiencies included underfunded rail infrastructure, incomplete safety upgrades (e.g., EU‑funded signaling projects), staff shortages, and outdated procedures—even long after safety technologies had become standard in other countries AP News+2The Times+2Greek City Times+2.
4. Investigation & Evidence Issues
HARSIA, the independent rail and air accident authority, only became operational in early 2024 and led the first official state inquiry, issuing 17 recommendations targeting the rail regulator, OSE (infrastructure), Hellenic Train (operator), and the Transport Ministry Balkan Insight+6Reuters+6GreekReporter.com+6.
Critical evidence was lost due to poor site management: the crash site was cleared within days and backfilled with gravel, potentially destroying traces of fuel or material evidence. No coordinated mapping or proper sealing occurred Reddit+11eKathimerini+11Reddit+11.
5. Public Response & Political Fallout
The crash triggered nationwide protests, a general strike, and a no-confidence motion in Parliament. Demonstrators accused the government of neglect, mismanagement, and evidence tampering. Even two years later, public trust remains strained AP NewsThe TimesDeutsche WelleAnadolu Ajansı.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis’s government proposed a comprehensive bill to modernize rail safety—including installation of automatic signaling and real-time train monitoring—based partly on HARSIA’s recommendations ProtoThema English+13GreekReporter.com+13Reuters+13.
🧭 Educational Reflection: Multi‑Layered Responsibility
Rather than attributing blame to a single actor, this tragedy underscores shared responsibility at multiple levels:
Level | Areas of Responsibility |
Political / Structural | Investment in infrastructure, oversight of EU-funded projects, modernization. |
Organizational / Operational | Adequate training, staffing, functional systems, maintenance protocols. |
Technical / Systemic | Design of control panels, reliability of communication channels, automated safety systems. |
Human / Personal | Professional competence, appropriate use of procedures and automation. |
