Relatives of the 57 victims killed in Greece’s deadliest train disaster gathered in large numbers at a courtroom in Larisa as the long-awaited trial officially resumed. Many families struggled to enter the overcrowded venue, with some saying they were “packed like sardines” while others were unable to clearly follow proceedings. The crash, which occurred in February 2023 near Tempi, involved a head-on collision between a passenger train travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki and a freight train, killing mostly young students.

The tragedy, widely referred to in Greece as the “Tempi crime,” has become a symbol of alleged negligence and systemic failures within the country’s railway system. Thirty-six defendants, including railway officials and a station master accused of failing to prevent the collision, are on trial in a case expected to last years and involve hundreds of witnesses. Families argue the disaster could have been avoided if safety upgrades funded by the European Union had been implemented on time.

Public anger intensified after the crash site was cleared within days, raising accusations of a cover-up, which authorities deny. Despite nationwide protests and political pressure, no politicians are among the accused, adding to the frustration of victims’ relatives seeking accountability. With thousands of pages of evidence and hundreds of lawyers involved, the trial is expected to be one of the most complex legal proceedings in Greece’s modern history.

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