A passenger train operated by Hellenic Train was brought to a halt on Christmas night after a technical malfunction affected its locomotive, causing significant delays on one of the country’s busiest rail routes.

The intercity service, traveling from Athens to Thessaloniki, stopped at 9:18 p.m. near a tunnel in central Greece due to the mechanical issue. The disruption resulted in a delay exceeding two hours for passengers onboard.

According to the railway operator, two backup locomotives were dispatched to the site to tow the train to the nearest station, where the faulty engine could be replaced. Once the procedure was completed, the train resumed its journey toward Thessaloniki with a total delay of 131 minutes.

Throughout the incident, Hellenic Train staff remained with the 318 passengers on board, providing regular updates on the situation and the progress of the route.

The company said it has launched an investigation into the cause of the malfunction and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding during the delay.