The platform allows railway authorities and the public to monitor train locations, identify deviations from operating rules and receive automatic warnings about potential collision risks. It also incorporates artificial intelligence tools to analyze recorded communications between train drivers and stationmasters, helping identify failures to follow safety protocols.

Mitsotakis said the system would complement existing safeguards rather than replace them. He also announced that the first two of 23 new trains ordered by Hellenic Train had been delivered and would enter service from early 2027.

He added that funding had been secured for remote traffic-control systems across the country’s main railway network, while the European Train Control System (ETCS), designed to automatically intervene and apply the brakes when necessary, had been installed on tracks and trains and was awaiting certification.

However, significant questions remain over the operational readiness of Greece’s railway infrastructure. Recent reporting by To Vima has highlighted delays in ETCS certification, shortcomings in railway communications and unresolved technical issues, including at Domokos on the Athens-Thessaloniki corridor. Installation of equipment does not necessarily mean that it is operational.

The February 28, 2023, collision between a passenger train and a freight train near Tempi exposed longstanding deficiencies in signaling, remote traffic management, communications and staffing. Investigations found that functioning automatic train protection and communication systems could have helped prevent the disaster.

Mitsotakis said the government was committed to preventing a recurrence and restoring public confidence, stressing that technology must be accompanied by professional training, operational discipline and effective oversight.

He also thanked the Union of Greek Shipowners and the 26 shipowners who contributed to financing the new platform, developed with support from the maritime community.