Student associations, school councils and student coordinating committees are staging nationwide demonstrations today, Thursday, ahead of Saturday’s third anniversary of the deadly Tempi railway disaster that claimed 57 lives.
The main rally in Athens is scheduled for noon at the Propylaea, the historic entrance to the University of Athens on Panepistimiou Street, a traditional gathering point for protests in the Greek capital.
Organizers say the demonstrations aim to commemorate the victims and highlight that responsibility for the crash is still being sought three years later.
Metro Station Closure in Central Athens
Ahead of the Athens protest, STASY, the company operating Athens’ fixed-track transport services, announced that the “Panepistimio” metro station will close at 10 a.m. by order of the Hellenic Police (EL.AS.). Trains will pass through the station without stopping.
Commuters and visitors to central Athens are advised to plan accordingly, as the closure affects one of the busiest stations serving the city center.
Thessaloniki and Other Cities Join Nationwide Mobilization
In Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, student associations are organizing a major rally at noon at the Venizelos Statue in the city center.
Similar demonstrations are planned in dozens of cities and towns across the country, underscoring the nationwide scope of the mobilization.
Protest Locations and Times Across Greece
Student and pupil demonstrations are scheduled in the following cities:
- Athens – 12 p.m., Propylaea
- Thessaloniki – 12 p.m., Venizelos Statue
- Agrinio – 11 a.m., Central Square
- Alexandroupoli – 1 p.m., City Hall
- Arta – 11 a.m., Kilkis Square
- Veria – 10:30 a.m., City Hall Square
- Volos – 12 p.m., University Dome
- Ioannina – 12 p.m., Labor Center
- Drama – 11 a.m., Central Square
- Heraklion (Crete) – 10:30 a.m., Eleftherias Square
- Kavala – 12 p.m., Kapnergati Square
- Kalamata – 12 p.m., Central Square
- Karditsa – 12 p.m., Central Square
- Katerini – 11 a.m., Eleftherias Square
- Corfu – 11 a.m., Annunziata
- Kozani – 12 p.m., Central Square (Clock)
- Komotini – 1 p.m., Central Square
- Larissa – 12 p.m., Central Square
- Mytilene – 12 p.m., Central High Schools
- Nafplio – 11 a.m., City Hall Square
- Xanthi – 10:30 a.m., Central Square
- Orestiada – 1 p.m., Central Square
- Patras – 11 a.m., Georgiou Square
- Rethymno – 11 a.m., City Hall
- Rhodes – 11 a.m., University Arches
- Samos – 12 p.m., Karlovasi Square
- Serres – 12 p.m., Eleftherias Square
- Sparta – 12 p.m., Central Square
- Trikala – 12 p.m., Rigas Feraios Square
- Tripoli – 12 p.m., Petrinou Square
- Tyrnavos – 12 p.m., Central Square
- Florina – 12 p.m., Modi Square
- Chania (Crete) – 10 a.m., Municipal Market Square
- Chios – 12 p.m., Vounaki Square
Strike Planned Saturday in Athens and Beyond
Saturday, Feb. 28, marks three years since the Tempi railway disaster, and a nationwide strike rally has been called to commemorate the anniversary. In Athens, demonstrators are set to gather at Syntagma Square, with parallel mobilizations planned in dozens of cities across Greece.
The Association of Relatives of the Tempi Victims, together with labor unions, organizations and civic groups, is urging mass participation under the slogan: “Their profits or our lives.”
All of this week’s mobilizations — including Thursday’s student demonstrations — are being held to mark three years since the tragedy, which claimed 57 lives and continues to prompt calls for accountability across Greek society. As part of the broader strike action on Saturday, boats, trains and planes are expected to halt services, affecting travel nationwide.
