Tempi train crash

Tempi train crash
Tempi train crash is located in Greece
Tempi train crash
Details
Date28 February 2023 (2023-02-28)[1]
23:21 EET (21:21 UTC)[1]
LocationNear Evangelismos, Tempi, Larissa, Thessaly
Coordinates39°50′54″N 22°31′00″E / 39.84833°N 22.51667°E / 39.84833; 22.51667
CountryGreece
LineAthens–Thessaloniki mainline
OperatorHellenic Train
Incident typeHead-on collision
Causeunder investigation [2] [3]
Statistics
Passengers342
Deaths57
Injured85
Missing1 [4]
List of rail accidents in Greece
One of the Siemens Hellas Sprinter locomotives involved in the accident in Athens Central Station three months before the crash.
Siemens/Bombardier UIC-Z1 coaches of Hellenic Train that are used on InterCity services in Greece
Tempi crash diagram
Simplified route diagram
km.0
434.9
Katerini
arrow for D direction of freight train
378.8
Tempi
369.1
site of collision
Tabliczka E75.svgAutokinetodromos A1 number.svg E75 / A 1
arrow for U direction of InterCity 62
366.6
Evangelismos
345.4
Larissa
303.1
Palaiofarsalos

On 28 February 2023, a head-on collision occurred between two trains south of the Tempe Valley in Greece, about halfway between the Greek villages of Tempi and Evangelismos in the Thessaly region. The collision, involving the InterCity 62 (IC62) passenger train and an intermodal freight train, killed at least 57 people, with an official number of 342 passengers and 10 onboard railway staff on the passenger train[5] and 2 staff on the freight train totalling 354 passengers on both trains.[6] It is the deadliest rail disaster in Greek history. It was discovered that the IC62 passenger train had been allowed to proceed on the wrong track and pass signals at danger despite the presence of the freight train on the same stretch of track.

Vigils, angry protests, and clashes with the police occurred throughout Greece following the accident. Beginning on 2 March 2023, railway workers of Hellenic Train and the Athens Metro went on strike to protest the dangers related to the crash. Following the accident, Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis resigned, taking responsibility for the crash and for his failure to bring Greek railways to 21st-century standards; he was reelected, after applying just two weeks after the incident.

The case has generated widespread condemnation of the state's handling of the investigation, which has been labelled as bogus with the alleged intent of prematurely concluding it.[7][8] As of 2024, no politicians have been subject to investigation regarding their involvement in the events leading up to the disaster.[9] This has prompted an open discussion among citizens and the media concerning the efficacy of the justice system,[10][11] particularly regarding issues of impartiality and integrity.[12] The government successfully weathered a no-confidence vote on 28 March 2024, despite accusations from the opposition regarding Mitsotakis' handling of the investigation.[13]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference bnonews was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Extension of the investigation into the crime of Tempi
  3. ^ https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240228-strikes-to-mark-one-year-since-greece-s-worst-train-crash"
  4. ^ "The story of Erietta, a victim in Tempe, reminds us of the tragedy of "Antigone": "Nothing of her body was found"
  5. ^ Labropoulou, Elinda; Cho, Kelly Kasulis; Francis, Ellen; Parker, Claire (2 March 2023). "Train collision in Greece kills at least 43; station master arrested". Washington Post. Washington Post. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Tempe train collision: A total of 354 on board the two trains". 1 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  7. ^ mkatopodi (8 February 2024). "Greek Supreme Court Refutes Reports of Oversights, Delays in Tempi Probe". tovima.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  8. ^ Κωνσταντάρας, Νίκος (27 February 2024). "Tα Τέμπη, η Δικαιοσύνη και η τιμή της πολιτείας". Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ (in Greek). Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  9. ^ mkatopodi (10 March 2024). "ND Parliamentary Comt's Investigation Report on Tempi Disaster Released". tovima.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Photos: Greeks strike to mark train crash anniversary and demand justice". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Rule of law in Greece: European Parliament sounds the…". Renew Europe. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  12. ^ "SYRIZA's Avgeri criticizes parliamentary committee investigation on Tempi train crash". www.amna.gr. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Greek government survives no-confidence vote over deadly Tempi train crash". POLITICO. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2024.

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