Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis outlined key provisions of an upcoming bill on the safety and modernization of Greece’s railway network during a Cabinet meeting on Monday. He emphasized that the goal is to restore public trust in the network, which has been severely undermined by the 2023 Tempe train collision, the deadliest in Greek history.

The bill incorporates recommendations from the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA), the Hellenic Air and Rail Accident Investigation Authority (HARSIA), and the Regulatory Authority for Railways (RAS).

Mitsotakis set a tight 15-month timeline for implementing upgrades that will see the national railway network equipped with advanced safety features, including telematics, automated signaling, and automatic braking systems.

“The automatic braking system has been successfully tested, and by September, it will be installed on every train traveling along the country’s main railway lines,” he said.

The prime minister also revealed that a new platform, Railway.gov.gr, will soon be launched to allow the public to access railway data and safety updates.

Mitsotakis announced the merger of Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE), GAIAOSE – a state-run company managing railway-related real estate – and ERGOSE, the projects branch of OSE. The new entity will operate on private-sector economic principles, following the model of the Public Power Corporation (PPC).

“Our goal is to transform OSE into a modern and thriving enterprise, much like PPC, which we inherited in 2019 in a state of near-bankruptcy and is now a growing company,” he said.

The prime minister also highlighted the importance of instilling a new culture of safety and professionalism at every level. He noted that the modernization initiative will require significant changes to long-standing practices.

He further announced that Hellenic Train, the country’s railway operator, will be required to make its own investments, particularly in acquiring new rolling stock.

“The state must respond to the collective grief caused by the Tempe tragedy by addressing the root causes of this disaster,” Mitsotakis said. “We will turn the page on a painful chapter in Greek society’s history.”

Source: Ekathimerini.com