Athens, Greece – The Athens Court of First Instance heard the first lawsuit from the relatives of a victim of the tragic Tempe train collision. The collision, which took place on February 28, 2023, was the deadliest rail disaster in Greek history, claiming the lives of 57 people and injuring many others. The lawsuit seeks compensation of 240,000 euros per plaintiff, totaling over 1 million euros for the five relatives. It is expected that more relatives will also pursue legal action to find some moral vindication through compensation.
During the court hearing, Epaminondas Bouras, a forensic specialist in railway accidents, provided expert testimony on behalf of the victim’s family. Bouras explained the sequence of events that led to the collision between the passenger and freight trains, highlighting the responsibilities of the stationmaster and other individuals in charge that night. He also emphasized the failure to implement the well-known 717 contract, which concerns signaling and remote railway control projects. Bouras argued that if the railway system had been modernized, the human error responsible for the crash would not have resulted in such tragic consequences.
Addressing suspicions about the freight train potentially carrying flammable material, Bouras stressed the need for further investigation to identify the exact nature and contribution of that material to the magnitude of the tragedy. The ongoing inquiry aims to clarify these details.
Representing the victims, Panagiotis Athanasopoulos, an honorary senior judge-turned-lawyer, presented the case during the hearing. The proceedings mark the beginning of the legal battle for justice and compensation for the families devastated by the disastrous Tempe crash.
In conclusion, the Athens Court of First Instance commenced the process of adjudicating claims by the relatives of the victims of the Tempe train collision. This tragic incident has prompted the pursuit of legal action to seek compensation and moral vindication for the affected families. The expert testimony provided insights into the sequence of events leading to the collision and emphasized the need for railway modernization to prevent such disastrous consequences. The investigation is ongoing, with a focus on determining the potential role of flammable material in exacerbating the tragedy.