An Intercity train with 200 people onboard and a suburban Proastiakos narrowly escaped the head to head collision in northern Greece. The incident took place on Monday, November 25. Investigation of the signalling system has been launched.
According to media reports, the Intercity train from Thessaloniki to Athens was carrying some 200 passengers when it narrowly escaped crashing into the suburban railway train that had stopped at Korinos due to engine problems.
The traffic signal for the incoming Intercity was green and its drivers were not aware of any obstacle ahead until they heard their colleague on the suburban railway train reporting that he was stationary at Korinos over the two-way radio.
They called him on his mobile phone to confirm and were able to stop their train around 1.5 kilometers before the station, where it would most probably have crashed into the other train.
Following the reports, the Hellenic Railways (OSE) announced on Wednesday that it has launched an investigation and is inspecting lighting signals and other safety systems.
In a statement the company responsible for the country’s national rail network (OSE) confirmed the media reports and said that technical checks are being conducted along the stretch of the line between Thessaloniki and Athens to ascertain why the incoming Intercity was given the green light when another train was stationary on the track ahead of it, at the station of Korinos.
It added that the automatic signaling system has been in operation on this part of the line since August 2023 and has been certified by the Regulatory Authority for Railways (RAS).
With the wounds of the train collision and the tragedy of 57 dead in Tempi still open, minor and bigger problems still trouble the Greek trains setting the lives of passenger and personnel lives at risk.
