Stationmaster Charged with Negligent Homicide in Connection with Greece’s Deadliest Train Disaster

On Sunday, a stationmaster was charged with negligent homicide and jailed pending trial in connection with Greece’s deadliest train disaster. The collision between a northbound passenger train and a southbound freight train late Tuesday night near the city of Larissa in central Greece resulted in the deaths of at least 57 people, many of them in their teens and 20s.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologized for any responsibility Greece’s government may bear for the tragedy and promised a swift investigation. The new Greek transportation minister will also release a safety improvement plan. The stationmaster’s lawyer said his client was in charge of train safety in the area for 20 minutes prior to the collision.

Once a new parliament is in place, a commission will be named to investigate decades of mismanagement of the country’s railway system. Stationmasters along that part of Greece’s main trunk line communicate with each other and with train drivers via two-way radios, and the switches are operated manually.

The tragedy has sparked outrage among the Greek public, with many calling for accountability and improved safety measures. Prime Minister Mitsotakis has promised to take action and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.