Greece sees justice delays 2 years after Tempi crash for 9 key reasons
Workers, aided by a crane, attempt to clear debris from the railway tracks following a train collision in Tempe, approximately 376 kilometers (235 miles) north of Athens, near Larissa, Greece, on March 2, 2023. (AFP Photo)
More than two years after the Tempi train disaster that killed 57 people, the investigation remains incomplete and the trial is once again delayed.
The initial timeline suggested proceedings might begin in 2024. Now, authorities indicate that even a late 2025 start is uncertain, as the case file continues to expand with new evidence, testimonies, and legal complications.
What happened at Tempi?
The fatal head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train on February 28, 2023, exposed deep flaws in Greece’s railway safety system and triggered national outrage.
Protests erupted across the country earlier this month on the second anniversary of the disaster. Citizens demanded accountability and accused the government of obstructing justice.
Nine key issues are currently holding back the completion of the judicial investigation, as reported by Kathimerini editor Sofia Spigou.
These delays could push the trial to the end of 2025, despite earlier estimates by Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis that suggested a September 2025 start, assuming the inquiry ended in March.
1. Nearly 200 witness testimonies requested
Two lawyers representing victims’ families submitted requests for almost 200 new witnesses to testify. Pavlos Aslanidis, who lost his son in the crash, asked for 171 injured passengers to be heard.
He said their testimonies are “absolutely necessary and particularly critical,” as they personally experienced the collision, explosion, fire, and aftermath. Another lawyer, Yiannis Marakakis, requested 67 additional witnesses. Some names appear in both requests.
Roughly 20 passengers and eyewitnesses have testified so far, but their input has not significantly advanced the case. The investigating judge is reportedly considering calling around 40 more individuals. To prevent further delays, the depositions may be assigned to preliminary officers under the judge’s directive.
2. Legal challenge over video analysis
A pending decision by the judicial council could cancel an expert report that identified the freight train in three surveillance videos submitted by Interstar. The issue is that experts appointed by the victims’ families were not present during the identification process, which may violate legal requirements.
The investigating judge classified the identification as a procedural act, not as a formal verification, meaning expert participation was not required. However, if the council annuls the report, the identification process must begin again.
3. Authenticity of video evidence under review
The Greek Criminal Investigation Directorate (DEE) has not yet concluded whether the Interstar videos are genuine. Their response is expected by the end of March.
Once delivered, employees from Interstar will be called to testify and explain why the videos bear a recovery date three days later than the declared submission date of February 8, 2025.
4. Expert report on fireball remains incomplete
The final report from National Technical University of Athens professor Dimitris Karonis is still pending. He was tasked with examining the fireball that formed after the crash.
The report was originally due in May 2024 but has been delayed by extended sampling and tests at the General State Chemistry Laboratory.
5. Separate investigation into crash site tampering
A second judicial probe is ongoing into allegations that the accident site was altered. The investigating judge recently concluded questioning the head of OSE’s track maintenance to identify who ordered the alleged cover-up.
If the judge believes there is sufficient evidence against a senior Transport Ministry official named in one deposition, charges may follow for moral instigation in breach of duty.
If this separate case expands to include former deputy minister Christos Triantopoulos, who could be brought directly before a regular court, the Supreme Court will appoint a judge and request the full section of the file concerning the seven already-indicted individuals.
6. Allegations over destruction of biological samples
Questions remain about whether biological material from victims was destroyed prematurely.
The judge ordered the destruction based on a 2012 law governing medical waste after police reported the samples were being kept unrefrigerated at a local traffic police station in Larissa.
At the time, officials said the material used for identification could not be reused for toxicology or tissue analysis. However, the judge is now considering whether to request an expert opinion on whether that material was still suitable for further examination.
7. Complaint filed against the judge
Five victims’ relatives have filed a complaint against investigating judge Sotiris Bakaimis. They accuse him of two actions: ordering the destruction of biological evidence and failing to include 649,000 files in the case file.
If he is called to provide explanations, the investigation will be temporarily suspended. If prosecutors pursue the case, a new judge must be appointed, who will need time to review the extensive case file.
Authorities have claimed that the excluded files include irrelevant data, such as communications from unrelated areas like the Peloponnese. Still, some lawyers for victims’ families say they were able to access those files after requesting them.
8. New inspections of the wreckage raise further questions
After a recent report by Greece’s railway accident investigation body, a new inspection of the wreckage was carried out in Koulouri, where the locomotives are stored. Chemical experts took samples to determine whether any substances had been placed between the second engine and the first open freight car.
Professor Petros Tsakiridis, who previously submitted a 90-page report stating the container had only deformities and no burn marks, participated in the latest inspection. He collected nine metal samples from the rear locomotive to check for signs of fire or impact.
No burn traces were found inside the cockpit or on window coverings. Forensic reports confirmed that the two train drivers died from collision-related trauma. The mother of one of the drivers, Dimitris Massalis, stated that independent technical consultants also found no signs of fire. “The freight train is treated only as cargo, but two children were inside,” she said.
9. Final defendant testimonies postponed
Two senior transport ministry officials, who are the last defendants in the main case file, have asked for extensions and are scheduled to testify on March 28 and early April. Their testimony may lead to more names being added to the file, further delaying the case.
When will the trial about the Tempi train disaster conclude?
Despite public outcry, including mass protests and calls for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ resignation earlier this year, the legal process remains slow.
Citizens and victims’ families continue to demand accountability.
While the trial was once expected to begin in the summer of 2024, ongoing complications now push expectations toward the end of 2025—at the earliest.
For many in Greece, the crash was not only a tragic event but also a symbol of systemic failure.
The judicial process, now mired in procedural obstacles, risks reinforcing public distrust. Until the investigation concludes and the trial begins, the search for justice remains unfinished.
