An admission with particular political and social weight came from the floor of the Parliament, three years after the deadly tragedy of Tempi. ETCS , the European automatic train protection system that is considered one of the most important safety features for preventing railway accidents, has not yet been put into operational operation , despite the fact that its installation has been completed.
This finding emerged during the meeting of the Public Utilities Committee of the Parliament, where the proposed positions for the management of the Hellenic Railways were examined. At the center of the discussion was the state of the safety systems of the Greek railway network, an issue that continues to arouse intense interest and concern after the deadly accident of 2023.
PASOK MP Milena Apostolaki has repeatedly asked to be informed whether ETCS is currently operating on Greek railways, insisting on a clear answer on an issue that directly concerns passenger safety.
The company’s proposed CEO, Christos Palios , clarified that the system has been installed and the relevant infrastructure is technically ready , but it has not yet been operationally activated . His response essentially confirmed that one of the key technological tools designed to prevent collisions through automatic braking of trains remains out of daily operation.
This statement caused immediate reactions in the Committee room, as it brought back to the fore questions about the progress of railway modernization projects and why there are still delays in the full utilization of critical safety systems.
The European Train Control System (ETCS) is an integral part of the European rail traffic management framework. It is an advanced digital system that constantly monitors train movements and can intervene automatically , slowing or stopping a train when speed limits or traffic orders are violated, drastically reducing the likelihood of accidents due to human error.
The fact that, three years after the Tempi tragedy , this system is still not operationally utilized is expected to fuel a new cycle of political confrontation, as well as public concern about the course of upgrading the Greek railway. The safety of travel remains at the center of interest and society continues to expect the full implementation of all technological measures that can guarantee that a similar tragedy will not be repeated.
