Rail transport in Greece began moving again this Wednesday after a 21 day pause caused by a catastrophic collision between two trains. The incident claimed 57 lives and crippled the country’s rail network, forcing a shutdown that kept people and goods off the tracks for days. The restart marks a cautious step back into service, aimed at restoring routine travel and freight flows while authorities assess safety and performance needs across the system.
Multiple commuter services in Athens, Patras, and several tourist routes across central and southern Greece returned to operation in the early hours of today. The resumption focuses on regional and local trips where safety checks have cleared the way for trains to run again, while many longer intercity and freight lines in the northern regions remain suspended as a precaution while engineers review every segment of the network.
Engineers have declined to run convoys on some routes, citing unresolved security concerns. They argue that certain stretches require further inspection and preventive measures before traffic can resume at normal speed, emphasizing that risks must be fully understood and mitigated before trains can operate without restrictions.
In a letter sent to Hellenic Train, the operator of Greece’s railways, the train drivers’ union highlighted conditions that hinder safe operation. It noted that in several points along the affected lines, communication between trains and stations is not consistently reliable, raising questions about coordination and safety during arrivals and departures, especially on routes with unattended vehicles.
The union also asked for written confirmation from the company that it deems passage through a sequence of tunnels safe, following reports from fire crews about safety issues in those sections. Such assurances are seen as essential for planning any future service resumption and for rebuilding public confidence in the rail system.
Under the government’s plan, both freight and passenger services will be reintroduced gradually, with ongoing evaluations and adjustments through early April. The approach prioritizes safety, reliability, and transparent communication with the public as the network slowly returns to full operation, rather than rushing toward a complete restart.
Interim Transport Minister Yorgos Yerapetritis described the restart as a necessary step to restore public trust in rail services. He noted that if trains stay idle too long, the risk of theft, vandalism, and deterioration of infrastructure increases, potentially undermining safety and future operations. The ministry has urged close monitoring of track conditions, signaling systems, and station readiness to ensure that every resumed service runs smoothly and safely.
Earlier this year, a tragic accident occurred near the city of Larisa when a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train. The incident, which happened in the late evening, resulted in 57 fatalities, many of whom were college students, and left the country heartbroken. Prime ministers and officials have acknowledged the scale of the tragedy and the need for a thorough investigation to learn exact causes and prevent future recurrence.
Officials from the Greek government have stressed that no security system can be guaranteed to prevent every possible outcome, but they reaffirmed a commitment to strengthen rail safety, improve maintenance standards, and invest in modernizing signaling, communication, and emergency response capabilities. The Greek state’s railway operations remain coordinated with a national framework for rail infrastructure oversight, and the operation of the national rail network continues under a combination of public and state-linked management structures to ensure accountability and continuity.
As the country slowly rebuilds its rail services, passengers are advised to stay informed through official announcements, plan trips with updated timetables, and allow extra travel time as services resume and adjust. The focus remains on safety, reliability, and restoring the confidence of travelers and businesses that depend on efficient rail transport to connect cities, regions, and communities across Greece and beyond.