Families gather in Greek court for trial of deadliest rail disaster

Wednesday saw relatives of the 57 victims of Greece’s most severe train crash flock to a courtroom, seeking accountability for the tragedy. The trial, which had been delayed previously due to disorder during its opening week, continued amid ongoing tensions. The accident occurred three years ago, when an intercity train en route from Athens to Thessaloniki collided head-on with a goods train near Tempi, a central town. Many of the deceased were students, and some are believed to have perished in flames after surviving the initial impact.

Access to the courtroom in Larisa remained limited, with only those legally registered allowed entry. Relatives reported that police occupied two rows of seats, while others claimed visibility was still obstructed. Defence lawyer Zoe Konstantopoulou urged the court to be recorded, highlighting restricted access for grieving families. The incident, known as the “Tempi crime,” has sparked accusations of systemic negligence and corruption within the Greek state.

Victims and survivors face trial

Thirty-six individuals are on trial, with 350 witnesses expected to testify over the course of years. Among the dead was Anastasia Plakias, a 20-year-old student at the University of Thessaloniki. She was returning to lectures in the northern city after celebrating a public holiday with her family. Her father, Dimitris, expressed anguish to the BBC, stating, “We relatives call it a state assassination of our children… in which European country could this be possible?” Anastasia was accompanied by her 20-year-old twin cousins, Thomi and Chrysa, who also lost their lives.

“We relatives call it a state assassination of our children, and all the people who were aboard that train… in which European country could this be possible?”

Accused of negligence, the station master failed to detect the head-on approach of the two trains for 10 minutes. Additional railway officials and two Italian former employees of Ferrovie dello Stato, the parent company of the trains, are also facing charges. The disaster ignited nationwide outrage, with critics pointing to the railway network’s neglect of EU safety funds.

Laura Kovesi, head of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, later noted that the collision might have been prevented had the money been allocated to upgrade the signaling system. Trade unions had previously warned of an impending catastrophe on Greece’s railways. To some surprise, the crash site was quickly cleared, experts say erasing vital evidence. Authorities have denied claims of a cover-up.

Despite public backlash, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was re-elected shortly after the crash and has weathered two no-confidence votes. He offered apologies to victims’ families and requested patience for the judicial process. However, many activists remain frustrated that no politicians are on trial. The proceedings take place in a newly renovated conference hall, costing hundreds of thousands of euros, which Mitsotakis described as “among the most functional and modern in Europe.”

Chaos struck on 23 March when the courtroom overflowed, forcing survivors and bereaved families to occupy seats reserved for the accused. Lawyers argued that safety rules were being breached. Maria Karystianou, who lost her 19-year-old daughter Marthi, described the scene as, “packed like sardines” and “an absolute disgrace.”