Cloudy landscape safety in trains

Two years after the Tempe accident, the landscape remains cloudy for trains safety.

« THE NEWS » investigated what has happened during this time, where there are still security gaps and what is left for citizens to be able to trust the rail again.

The report shows that some progress has been made, but the maximum possible safety on the railway will not occur if the timetables are respected before the summer of 2026.

The railway is safer today than in February 2023, according to Transport Minister Christos Staikouras.

However, he avoided talking about complete security, citing examples of accidents even on lines abroad, where European systems are installed, as in Wales in October 2024.

It is certain that security is up to the proper functioning of the technological systems (signaling, telecommunications, ETCS, GSM-R), but also in the correct and proper functioning of the stakeholders in terms of organization and (adequate and trained) staff.

Here's what is the situation today, what has happened and what is not.

Photo and telecommunications. After Tempi, the installation of photo and telecommunications across the Athens – Thessaloniki line went quickly. These are the prerequisites of ERGOSE's infamous Convention 717, which should have been completed since 2016, according to the finding of EPANAAM.

The photocopier, which regulates circulation along the rails, was half -installed (54%) in February 2023 and reached 100% in September.

Telephone, which enables remote stations, was located at 31% of the network in February 2023 and – as well as photoshoot – reached full coverage in September of the same year.

« In the first three or four months after Tempi there was significant progress, it was the only encouraging time, » says Dimitris Koutsioutis.

The outbreak of the bad weather « Daniel », however, destroyed about 20% of the above facilities. Specifically, the portion of the line from Lianokladi to Larissa has been destroyed, about 100 kilometers long.

It remains in the same situation to this day and is served by a single line, which is circulated only one train at a time.

It is noted that the projects to restore and upgrade the network were auctioned in January and are expected to begin in the spring.

Their duration is valued at more than a year and is estimated to be completed in the summer of 2026.

It has not been clarified, however, how the train will be formed at this time – although a recent report by the « NEWS » has spoken of a suggestion that has cut off all routes until the basic infrastructure projects and damage to natural phenomena were restored.

Etcs. The ETCS (European Train Control System) is the system consisting of sensors found in both trains and rail lines, with the ability to activate automatic braking.

As Christos Staikouras clarifies, for the ETCS to fully operate, it must be installed on both rails and trains. « Essentially, the ETCS whether it works or not. It's like pregnancy, there is not a little pregnant, « says Pantelis Barianos, Vice President of OSE workers.

In conclusion, the ETCS is not operating today, despite the fact that it has settled on the lines, about 80% of the Athens – Thessaloniki route.

According to the ministry, the next time will proceed on the trains and the required checks will begin in the summer. The minister estimates that the ETCS will be fully operational by the summer of 2026.

GSM-R. GSM-R is the intercom system between those involved in the runs (drivers, stations, traffic control centers, etc.).

Like the ETCS, the GSM-R must be installed in both the lines and trains. Today, it is located at 78% of the line, but not in the Tithorea – Domokos section.

The same is not true for the trains system, where today they are installed on 100 devices, and in February 2023 their number was 119. According to the ministry, 118 points will be installed by the end of March, and by June 158 will be located.

There are 2,084 permanent staff in the OSE organizational chart. Although it is old and calculates some positions that have passed to the Hellenic Train, the actual number does not significantly shorten of 2,000.

Today, however, OSE's permanent staff does not exceed 563 people, while in February 2023, permanent employees were 715 (21%reduction). 613 employees also work with a block, about 120 of whom are still in the process of training.

In total, at the end of 2023 OSE employees were 1,096, and today it is 1,317.

Organic positions have been announced since 2022, but no recruitment has yet been made.

According to Christos Staikouras, 140 recruitments via ASEP will be completed in March and another 100 will proceed immediately.

According to Pantelis Barianos, there are many stations in the region that still operate with a single commander, many of whom work with a block, and about 100 are still in the process of training.

In the drivers, the shortcomings are real, but less than in the past, while the Hellenic Train has never presented an organizational chart, says drivers President Dimitris Koutsioutis.