The streets at the centers of Athens, Thessaloniki, and other major Greek cities were flooded with protesters this Wednesday as a general strike hit the public sector. The demonstrations followed the death of 57 people in a rail accident on the line linking the country’s two largest cities last week, a tragedy that has stunned the nation.
Protesters described the disaster as the result of government neglect, insufficient investment in safety, and staffing shortfalls. They argued that the Greek rail network had suffered for years from underfunding and mismanagement, a situation they say culminated in the fatal crash on the line between Athens and Thessaloniki.
Signs carried by demonstrators declared, in stark terms, that people would not simply endure the situation and demanded accountability, with some posters reading, “We won’t survive by chance. We want to live the way we want. Murderers!” These messages appeared in front of the Greek Parliament as crowds gathered in the capital.
Although the strike had been organized by the main public workers union, it drew participation from a broad coalition including schools and universities, which closed their doors for the day in solidarity with the rail workers and broader public sector action.
Since last Tuesday, trains have ceased running across Greece, and ferries and other key transport services faced disruptions as the country’s communications network slowed. In Athens, metro service operated only in limited windows during the morning; authorities emphasized that this was not a calculated minimal service but a measure intended to facilitate crowd access to central squares such as Syntagma and other gathering points with larger turnouts.
The political landscape surrounding the incident has become a focal point in the lead-up to parliamentary elections slated for July. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, leading a conservative government, had anticipated a different electoral trajectory, yet the accident and ongoing protests have unsettled public sentiment. The opposition, led by Syriza and figures associated with Alexis Tsipras, has pointed to a series of scandals and perceived governance failures, including allegations of spying on journalists and politicians, as factors eroding support for the ruling coalition.
Reopening at the end of March
Officials stated that no trains would depart until security assurances were fully in place, with a security level kept as high as possible. The government indicated ambitions to complete essential safety and restoration tasks by the end of March, signaling a cautious path toward a restart of services as investigations continued. A former minister, Kostas Karamanlis, who had resigned in the wake of the accident, remained a reference point in discussions about reforms and accountability.
Only one person, the head of the Larisa railway station, faced preventive detention on charges related to negligent and reckless murder connected to the incident. Greek press reports on Wednesday noted that further criminal inquiries were underway. According to Kathimerini, additional individuals connected with management and supervision at various stations are under investigation as authorities seek to establish responsibility for the 57 deaths and the broader safety failures surrounding the crash. The government and investigators have stressed the need for transparency and accountability as the country seeks to restore public trust in its rail system.
As the nation reflects on the tragedy, observers note the broader implications for labor relations, public safety policy, and infrastructure funding in Greece. The protests and the political reactions highlight questions about investment, oversight, and the balance between rapid recovery and long-term safety improvements within critical national transport networks. The situation remains fluid as authorities continue investigations and the public ponders the path forward for reliable and secure rail transportation across the country.