The Greek authorities was supposed to put in a security system practically three years in the past that was designed to stop the form of head-on practice collision that resulted this week within the worst railway catastrophe within the nation’s historical past.
As a freight practice and a passenger practice barreled towards one another at excessive speeds on the identical observe late Tuesday evening, railway officers needed to depend on a system that was far much less refined than these utilized in many different European international locations, based on railroad and union officers and information.
However even that extra rudimentary system was not totally operational, with lights and indicators out of service, union and security officers stated on Thursday as Greek investigators looked for extra our bodies amid the wreckage.
That confluence of delays, warnings and errors left Greece’s busiest rail hall susceptible to what each security system is designed to stop: human error.
A lot of what occurred main as much as the crash, which killed 57 individuals, stays unclear. However officers and specialists agreed on one factor: If a contemporary security system had been in place as deliberate, it might have been all however not possible for a freight practice to finish up on the identical observe as a crowded passenger practice.
Warnings would have sounded, and automated brakes would have kicked in. “Sure, definitely so,” stated Josef Doppelbauer, the top of the European Union Company for Railways, which has warned for years of serious inadequacies in Greece’s railway security system.
The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, blamed the crash on “tragic human error.” The transportation minister resigned, acknowledging that efforts to enhance rail security had been insufficient. And the station supervisor in Larissa, a metropolis close to the crash web site, faces fees together with manslaughter via neglect.
However the crash shines a light-weight on systemic issues that transcend no matter errors have been made this week.
Greece’s rail system persistently ranks among the many continent’s most harmful regardless of receiving $700 million in modernization cash from the European Union over the previous decade. And the set up of the brand new security system turned so slowed down {that a} senior authorities official give up final yr to protest what he known as “unjustifiable delays.”
The European Union expects its 27 member international locations to place in place refined new procedures generally known as the European Practice Management System by the tip of the last decade. That system screens trains and takes management once they go too quick, blow via purple lights or find yourself on the flawed tracks. The European Union desires to broaden cross-border practice journey, and harmonizing security requirements throughout the bloc is a part of that technique.
However placing it into impact has been inconsistent, as evidenced by this week’s crash.
“If the European Practice Management System would have been put in and dealing correctly, it ought to have completely prevented one thing like this from occurring,” stated Jedde Hollewijn, the railways coverage officer for the European Transport Staff’ Federation. “The intention is that each one European international locations implement this, and we all know that Greece has been lagging considerably.”
Luxembourg, the bloc’s smallest and richest nation, is already utilizing the brand new system throughout its rails. Belgium plans to be totally operational by 2025. Others have upgraded their main routes. However even with out the brand new expertise, most rail methods have security options to stop head-on collisions. The French Nationwide Railway Security Authority, for instance, makes use of automated braking methods and different expertise.
That was not in place in Greece. The nation has by no means had a nationwide automated security system, E.U. records show. And the swap system in Larissa has been insufficient for years as elements went lacking from primary signaling gear, stated Nikolaos Tsikalakis, the president of the workers union of the Greek nationwide railroad group.
The precise reason for the sluggish upgrades to the protection system weren’t instantly clear, however union and security officers and specialists cited as elements tight budgets, provide chain issues associated to the Covid-19 pandemic, bureaucratic delays and contract disputes.
Varied rail union officers have written offended letters to the Greek authorities for years, together with as not too long ago as final month, warning about security issues. That letter ominously warned of a tragedy and criticized Greek officers for dragging their ft.
“We is not going to look ahead to the approaching accident to see them cry crocodile tears,” the letter learn. “What else are they ready for to occur to intervene?”
“We now have instructed each authorities about these points, however now we have not discovered open ears,” Mr. Tsikalakis stated. “Thus, we got here to this tragic accident. I don’t need tears and blood on the tracks.”
Rail security officers in Europe stated that the Greek authorities have additionally uncared for the important activity of monitoring and updating security procedures and gear throughout the community. That would have improved even the nation’s rudimentary security system, they stated.
“Dangers and monitoring assessments need to be carried out on all areas, all kinds of trains, all kinds of gear,” stated Vaibhav Puri of the Rail Security and Requirements Board in Britain.
The crash additionally highlights the restricted energy of the European Union to demand enhancements from railways, even because it pours cash into them. The bloc earmarked round $117 million particularly for security upgrades on the Athens-to-Thessaloniki route, on which the trains crashed.
Mr. Doppelbauer, of the European Union Company for Railways, stated his security group had issued experiences and known as on member international locations to do higher however couldn’t pressure nationwide governments to make modifications. By a number of requirements, Greece’s was the deadliest rail system in Europe.
“We put collectively an motion plan and requested Greek authorities to report again on the motion plan,” he stated. “However our powers are restricted.”
He urged that the European Fee, the bloc’s administrative arm, might take authorized motion towards Greece for failing to keep up security requirements. On Thursday, although, European officers struck a collaborative tone. Adalbert Jahnz, a spokesman for the fee, stated the bloc had financially supported Greece and remained in shut contact with the authorities there.
The Greek authorities, nonetheless, haven’t been clear about necessary railway particulars. Two weeks earlier than the crash, European officers took Greece to court docket over its refusal to make public the important thing contract spelling out how the railway will likely be managed because it modernizes.
At a information convention on Thursday, the Greek state minister, Giorgos Gerapetritis, apologized to the households of the crash victims and promised a radical investigation. He additionally vowed to modernize railway infrastructure to “restore the protection of rail journey and enhance a way of safety within the psychology of residents.”
The search operation is anticipated to conclude early Friday afternoon.
Mr. Doppelbauer stated he hoped the tragedy would pressure enhancements on different rail methods throughout Europe. “Such a catastrophic accident is at all times a reminder of how necessary security is,” he stated. “And a reminder for everybody to take the warnings severely.”
Niki Kitsantonis contributed reporting from Larissa, Greece and Chrysostomos Trimmis from Volos, Greece.
