The trial for the individuals responsible for Greece’s most devastating train crash, which occurred in Tempi and resulted in 57 fatalities, is reportedly delayed until late 2025. Legal complications, including an expanding case file and requests for additional witness testimonies from victims’ relatives, are attributing to these delays, according to a report by Kathimerini, a Greek newspaper.

Investigations are ongoing, and the trial’s start is being postponed due to several factors, including the need for autopsy and expert reports, analysis of footage possibly linked to the disaster, and a lawsuit against the investigating judge. Euronews reached out to the Greek Ministry of Justice and lawyers representing the victims’ families for further comments on this timeline.

Last month, investigating judge Sotiris Bakaimis requested an examination of the authenticity of new footage that allegedly depicts the freight train before its collision with the passenger train. Previously released videos of the incident showed a massive explosion after the crash, leading some to believe that the freight train might have carried flammable materials.

A forensic investigator hired by the victims’ families claimed that 30 of the deceased passengers survived the initial crash but were later killed by the fire. If the lawsuit against Bakaimis proceeds, it could result in further delays in the trial.

Tthese developments occurred in the wake of a report released in February on the eve of the disaster’s second anniversary. The report concluded that the Train Crash in Tempi was the result of human error, outdated infrastructure, and systemic failures, including inadequate training and staff shortages. The report also mentioned that modern safety technologies should have been implemented to prevent the accident.

The report’s release sparked general strikes and mass protests in Greece, with victims’ families accusing the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of mishandling the investigation. There have been increasing allegations of a cover-up, and Mr. Mitsotakis’ cabinet faced a vote of no-confidence earlier this month, which it managed to survive.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/24/tempi-trial-likely-to-be-delayed-as-probe-into-greeces-deadly-crash-continues