ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A long-standing report on an investigation into Greece’s most deadly train accident was released Thursday, denounced human error in a head-on collision that killed 57 people two years ago, outdated infrastructure and major systemic disorders.
The 178-page report was published on the eve of a general strike and massive protest planned for the second anniversary of the February 28, 2023 crash.
The Independent Investigation Committee discovered that a routing error by the Station Master sent the passenger train to the same truck as the approaching freight train. The clash that killed 11 staff, including 46 passengers and 11 train drivers, occurred near Tempe, 375 km (235 miles) north of Athens.
Investigators also highlighted the chronic shortage of public investment during the 2010-18 financial crisis, highlighting poor training, staff shortages and aggravating rail systems that lack automated safety management.
The findings were published by Hellennik Air and the Railway Safety Investigation Bureau.
Authority director Christos Papajimitriu told The Associated Press that many safety improvements remain unfinished.
“Accidents don’t happen by chance,” he said. “There are cumulative factors that contribute to accidents, as humans also tend to make mistakes.”
He added: “The Greek railway system was not in 2023. Not today either. There is a mechanism for the train driver and station master to prevent this accident from happening if one or two people make a mistake together.”
The government said it would address “very serious shortcomings, staffing and funding shortages,” but added the allegations made by the opposition parties that prevented the investigation from being shown to be false.
“The cover-up is a very serious allegation, and this has not been demonstrated at any time of these findings,” said government spokesman Pablos Marinakis. The government deployed 5,000 police officers on Athens patrols on Friday, planning public demonstrations, and is expected to halt or disrupt flights, ferries, public services and commercial activities.
Theodora Tongas contributed to this report.
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