Speaking to OPEN, Nikos Kioutsoukis, president of the Hellenic Train workers, firmly denied the allegations that 2.5 tons of flammable material were stored in the second engine of the commercial train involved in the Tempi disaster.

“Not even one in a million. I have sent the photo of the driver’s cab. Even if they put this notorious volatile liquid in 20-liter cans here, as the experts report, 125 cans would have to be placed. If you believe that 125 cans can be placed in this space and not a trace of these cans would be found…” he said.

Kioutsoukis pointed out that train components contain flammable materials. He also posted on Facebook, arguing that 2.5 tons of cargo would have been physically impossible to fit inside the engine compartment.

What Caused the Fireball?

While he could not say with certainty what triggered the fireball, Kioutsoukis asserted he believes the high-voltage arcs from the collision played a significant role:

“I cannot answer that. However, what the General State Chemistry Laboratory answers is that with such a high voltage, 25,000 Volts, that these two photovoltaic arcs of the commercial and passenger trains had when they came together, it is self-evident that there will be an explosion. This creates problems both in the electric motors and in the systems that an electric train has, such as the transformer. On the other hand, not a drop of silicone oil was found on the ground where the passenger train fell.”

Kioutsoukis stated he himself visited the crash site on the second day and dismissed the idea that such a large amount of material could have been stored on board. Instead, he suggested the explosion may have been fueled by a cleaning liquid used since 2007 for graffiti removal.

Conflicting Reports and Unanswered Questions

The cause of the fireball remains controversial. While the National Organization for the Investigation of Air and Rail Accidents and Transport Safety report, released on Thursday morning, ruled out silicone oils from the engine as a cause, it did not provide a definitive answer.

For over a year after the crash, the Greek government asserted that the fireball was likely due to silicon oils, though Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis later changed tack as evidence and conflicting reports came out.

The National Organization for the Investigation of Air and Rail Accidents and Transport Safety’s investigation concluded:

“With the existing evidence, it is impossible to determine what exactly caused it, but simulations indicate the possible presence of a hitherto unknown fuel.”

Hellenic Train has maintained that there were no other substances or fuels aboard their trains.