Trial continues for the Tempi train disaster

The trial regarding the February 28, 2023, train crash in Tempi, Greece, continued this week at the Three-Member Court of Appeals in Larissa. During the 45th session, survivors and relatives of the victims provided emotional testimonies detailing the panic and chaos experienced at the scene. Among those present in the courtroom were the former president of the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE), Spyros Pateras, and the former CEO, Pavlos Kouzis.

In a procedural development, the court granted a request by plaintiffs' attorney Loukas Apostolidis to obtain correspondence between the Greek government and the European Commission concerning railway safety. The ministries of Foreign Affairs and Infrastructure and Transport have been ordered to submit these documents, covering the period from 2016 to 2026, within 30 days. The court has reserved its decision on a separate request to summon former Secretaries General of the Ministry of Transport (2016-2023) to testify, aligning with the prosecutor's reserved stance on the matter.

The trial remains focused on establishing accountability for the disaster that resulted in significant loss of life. Additional witnesses, including passengers and relatives, are scheduled to appear as the proceedings progress to address the systemic safety failures surrounding the collision.