Image: APA/AFP/Sakis Mitrolidis
For the second day in a row, rail workers across the country went on a 24-hour strike. The union had denounced years of neglect of the rail network by various governments. In Athens in the evening, 3,000 people gathered in the city center, some carrying banners reading “Down with the murderers’ government”. The police sometimes used tear gas.
The government acknowledged state failure. Delays in the modernization of the rail network are due to “chronic” problems and “decades of failure” in administration, said a government spokesman. The new Transport Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis – his predecessor had resigned because of the disaster – announced that the accident would be dealt with.
- ZIB 1: Anger against the government is mounting in Greece after the train crash that killed 57 people.
The accident happened on Wednesday night between Athens and Thessaloniki. An Intercity with 350 people on board had gotten onto a track on which a freight train was coming because of a wrong switch setting. Two wagons were crushed by the force of the collision, and the dining car caught fire. Scores of people were trapped in the wedged wrecks.
The responsible railway employee was charged with negligent homicide and negligent bodily harm. If convicted, the 59-year-old faces life imprisonment. He is said to have had little experience – according to the TV station ERT, he took over the post a good month ago. He had been trained for his new job for three months.
station searched
The police meanwhile also searched the train station in Larissa. Officials confiscated audio files, documents and other evidence. Judicial circles said the investigations also aimed to take criminal action against members of Hellenic Train’s management.
According to the train drivers’ union, the route between Athens and Thessaloniki is in a very bad condition. All signals would be controlled manually. In an open letter in February, railway employees pointed out that the security systems were incomplete and poorly maintained. As part of a privatization program, the Italian state railway took over the Greek railway in 2017.
Source: Nachrichten
