Felony charges against another 3 Greek RR employees expected; Tempi rail disaster death toll at 56

Criminal charges were reportedly filed on Thursday by prosecutors against three individuals – all state-run rail network employees – in relation to a deadly Feb. 28 train collision in north-central Greece.

The official death toll as of Thursday remained at 56, with dozens of passengers injured, and with five or six people still being treated in hospital ICUs.

A 59-year-old controller who served as the only Larissa station master on duty during the collision, and who is accused of mistakenly switching the north-bound passenger train into the path of an ongoing south-bound freight train, remains in remand. The collision took place north of Larissa, just south of a two-way rail tunnel that bypasses much of the steep Tempi Valley Gorge.

New indictments are now expected for the jailed man’s supervisor. The latter placed the relatively inexperienced station master in the specific evening to early-morning shift on the night of the collision. Just hours after the worst rail accident in Greek history, the supervisor sought and received a 30-day medical leave through the intervention of two public health physicians, ostensibly for back pain, although a subsequent inquiry revealed no actual examination or diagnosis, but rather a “courtesy” favor.

Additionally, two station masters that were on duty on the fateful evening at the Larissa station until 11 p.m., but left earlier, leaving their more junior colleague alone, will also face felony charges.

The collision occurred at 11.20 p.m. local time (21.20 GMT), nevertheless, the two trains were on a collision course for at least 12 minutes, while the erroneous switching of tracks came earlier.

The latter three individuals are expected to be summoned, as suspects, in the next 48 hours by investigating magistrates, although they retain the right to request a short postponement in order to provide testimony.

According to reports by the Athens-based Mega Channel on Thursday evening, the implicated supervisor has already prepared his statement, having traveled to Athens – after receiving medical leave – to seek legal counsel.