On December 17th, following the completion of the second reading of the bill, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras, highlighted the long-standing issues plaguing the Greek railway system, as evidenced by the data presented to the Committee over the past decade. He noted that "the problems of the Greek railway are timeless," emphasizing that the recorded incidents were not trivial, but rather serious and hazardous. These included train escapes, derailments on shunting lines, damage to trains and infrastructure, head-on collisions, train collisions with obstacles, derailing, train separations, and other significant safety issues.
The minister reiterated that it is important to highlight these incidents, as they represent a serious matter that requires collective efforts to enhance transportation safety across the system.
Tempi Conclusion
Regarding the conclusion of the National Organization for the Investigation of Air and Railway Accidents (EODASAAM) on the Tempi incident, the minister confirmed that the investigation will involve the participation of the European Railway Agency. He noted that additional funds had been requested and provided by the ministry to EODASAAM for further investigations, with the involvement of foreign entities to support their work. When asked how he could be certain that the findings would be ready by the end of February, Mr. Staikouras responded, “I know this from the written request that the Organization submitted to the ministry to ensure space for the publication of the findings.”
Thessaloniki Metro
Addressing the opposition’s criticism of the shutdown that occurred on Saturday in the Thessaloniki Metro, the minister emphasized that all safety protocols had been fully followed. He affirmed, "What you saw, what you observed, is exactly what the safety protocols require. This had to be done, and it was done." In response to concerns over potential malfunctions, he pointed out that similar issues had occurred with other international metro systems. For instance, the Copenhagen Metro had stopped for half an hour just days after its inauguration, and the Milan Metro experienced a two-hour shutdown the day after it opened. Additionally, incidents occurred in the Sydney Metro, where passengers were delayed for two hours on multiple occasions.
Mr. Staikouras clarified, “Nothing happened that does not also occur in other metros abroad. Naturally, we all aim to avoid such incidents and will continue to take all necessary measures to prevent them." He also highlighted a positive outcome stemming from a provision passed through Parliament, which established a procedure for certifying the safe and proper operation of the Metro. This provision was supported by all parties, including the opposition, which did not vote against it. Additionally, the certification by an Independent Certification Body was also confirmed.
The minister further explained that all Metro trains automatically stopped as a precautionary measure to ensure safety. Despite the incident, he noted the high level of public confidence in the Thessaloniki Metro, with 200,000 trips made within two days of the incident and the issuance of 27,000 personalized cards. Since the Metro’s opening, over 700,000 trips had been made, with more than 150,000 tickets issued, and a noticeable 10% reduction in vehicle traffic in the city center.
Regarding delays at automatic ticket machines and ticket offices, Mr. Staikouras assured that efforts were underway to minimize these wait times, with an expectation of resolving the issue in the coming days.
