After the serious train accident last week with at least 57 deaths, in addition to sadness, there is increasing outrage in Greece and violent protests for days (see video above). More and more details leading up to the head-on collision of a passenger and freight train are coming to light – revealing a massive breakdown. The career of the stationmaster alone, who made the crucial mistake and put the passenger train on the wrong track, raises countless questions.
The man, who will be questioned again on Sunday, is 59 years old – and only started training as a station manager last year, although the age limit for training is 42, according to Greek media. He previously worked as a porter and messenger at the Ministry of Culture.
Trains drove towards each other for minutes
The man should not have been trained in the first place and was reportedly completely overwhelmed. He also sat for days without a more experienced colleague at the important post at the Larisa railway station. After sending the train on the wrong track, he allegedly ignored electronic instructions and questions from both one of the drivers involved and a stationmaster at one of the following stations, the “Kathimerini” reports. The trains therefore drove unimpeded towards each other for several minutes before the fatal head-on collision took place.
The 59-year-old has been detained for some time and is charged with, among other things, manslaughter and bodily harm through negligence. But as much as the man’s alleged faults weigh, people feel that citing “human error” as the reason for the tragedy falls short.
There is no doubt that all governments over the last 20 years have criminally neglected the Greek railways. That the electronic guidance system and other safety measures did not work or only partially worked. That the railway workers have repeatedly complained bitterly about this and demanded changes – not only from the state railway company OSE, but also from the Ministry of Transport. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologized extensively on social media on Sunday.
“Don’t hide behind human error”
“As Prime Minister, I owe a deep apology to everyone, but especially to the families of the victims – both personally and on behalf of all those who have ruled the country for many years,” Mitsotakis wrote, admitting: “We cannot, will not and must not hide behind human error.” The accident would have been practically impossible had the electronics worked.
Promising improvement, Mitsotakis promised the repair of the electronic control system, a special committee for the breakdowns of the past 20 years and new trains. This does not reassure people for the time being: on Sunday morning thousands again gathered in central Syntagma Square in Athens in front of the parliament to protest against the conditions. There was a massive police presence, there were violent confrontations.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
