Hellenic Train has announced that it will make advance payments to the families of the victims and to the passengers injured in the train crash on February 28, 2023 in Tempi, in order to cover their immediate financial needs.
According to the announcement on Wednesday, the following has been decided:
1. An advance payment of 42,000 euros to the families of the passengers who were killed.
2. Regardless of the severity of the injuries, 10,000 euros to passengers who were injured and are still being treated in hospitals or clinics and 5,000 euros to passengers who were injured and are no longer being treated in hospitals or clinics.
In addition, to the families of the dead, injured and other passengers who were on the train at the time of the accident, a compensation of 300 euros for luggage, including hand luggage, and personal belongings, is provided.
In its announcement, Hellenic Train noted that the payment of these advances “in no way constitutes an acceptance of liability on the part of the company,” and that the sums given “exceed the minimum obligations foreseen for rail companies by European Regulation 1371/2007 for the rights and obligations of passengers and railway lines.”
Under the EC regulation, “If a passenger is injured in a train accident, the rail company must make an advance payment within 15 days to cover the passenger’s and his/her dependents’ immediate needs. In the event of a death, the minimum payment is 21,000 euros.” The regulation does stipulate that an advance must be paid in the event of injury but does not name a minimum amount.
More on the train crash here.
Reactions
Νote that not all relatives of victims welcomed the Hellenic Train decision.
Speaking to Alpha TV, the father of 20-year-old victim Dimitris Aslanidis said he doesn’t want the money paid by “murderers” as he described the management of the company and asked “is this how much they value a human life?”.
“We want our children back,” father Palvos Aslanidis said in outrage. “The image of how these children were burned alive comes to my mind and I go crazy.”
He added that i”if we were in a serious country, the entire Ministry of Transport would have been handcuffed already. And they allegedly took support measures. Are they paying out of pocket? The assets of the ministers of the last 15 years should be frozen.”
Shockingly low