The long-awaited trial over Greece’s deadliest rail disaster in recent memory was halted Monday after a chaotic opening session marked by repeated disruptions and intense reactions inside the courtroom. The court ruled that proceedings would be limited to initial formalities, with the next hearing scheduled for April 1.
From the moment proceedings began, the atmosphere inside the courtroom was tense. Dozens of victims’ relatives, survivors and legal teams were packed into a space that quickly proved too small for the scale of the case. Many were left standing, with people pressed tightly together and little room to move.
Lawyers and family members began raising objections almost immediately, arguing that the conditions were not only undignified but also unsafe. At points, the session was halted as the presiding judge considered whether it was appropriate to proceed in the same room.
A general view of the venue, prior to the start of the trial of the Tempi train crash, that killed 57 people in Larissa, Greece, March 23, 2026. REUTERS/Kostas Mantziaris
The interruptions continued through the morning, with a second pause in proceedings as pressure grew from multiple sides.
More than 100 lawyers were inside the courtroom, many of them standing, without desks or space for case files. Several warned that under such conditions they could not properly perform their duties, raising concerns about the integrity of the process itself.
Calls were made for fire safety experts to assess the room, while legal representatives stressed that the trial must proceed — but under conditions that ensure both safety and fairness.
“This is unthinkable for a trial of such importance,” one lawyer said during the exchanges.
The emotional strain was also evident. Relatives of the 57 victims interrupted proceedings at points, voicing anger and frustration after three years of waiting for the trial to begin. Some accused authorities of disrespecting the memory of those who died, while others urged the court to move forward.
“We’ve waited three years. Let justice begin,” one family member said.
Tensions inside the courtroom remained high, with occasional verbal clashes and repeated appeals for calm. At one point, the situation escalated into a direct confrontation. Nikos Plakias, who lost his twin daughters and niece in the disaster, was involved in a heated exchange with a defendant, the former head of the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE).
Start if the trial of the Tempi railway accident, at the `Geopolis` conference center of the University of Thessaly Larissa, Greece on March 23, 2026.
The situation was further strained by the absence of most of the defendants — 35 out of 36 were not present at the opening session, including the stationmaster at the center of the case.
The handling of media coverage also drew reactions. Journalists were asked to move to a separate room due to space limitations, prompting objections over transparency. The court clarified that media were not being excluded, but relocated. However, the alternative setup — reportedly lacking basic infrastructure — complicated coverage of the proceedings.
The court ultimately decided that only limited procedural steps would move forward, focusing on the legal representation of the defendants. Due to time constraints, the process could not be completed, and the session was interrupted, with the next hearing set for April 1 to continue the formal proceedings.
The announcement triggered strong reactions inside the courtroom. As the next hearing date was set for April 1, a remark from a lawyer drew applause, while relatives of victims responded with jeers and chants as the names of the accused were read aloud.
Shouts of “Shame” and calls for accountability echoed through the room, reflecting the anger and frustration that continue to surround the case.
Families Voice Anger and Frustration
Emotions were already running high as families arrived at the court for the start of proceedings.
Pavlos Aslanidis, president of the association of victims’ relatives, described the trial as long overdue and questioned why key figures were not among the accused. He argued that responsibility should extend further, including to political leadership and the rail operator, and pointed to the absence of charges related to some of the victims.
Christodoulos Papaioannou, who lost his son Kyprianos in the disaster, struck a more measured tone. “Today I am here in the hope that justice will be served,” he said, expressing restrained optimism while acknowledging the emotional burden carried by families.
Christos Vlachos, the father of a victim, also pointed to broader responsibility, saying the disaster reflected failures across multiple levels of the state. At the same time, he expressed cautious confidence in the trial process.
Maria Karystianou thanked supporters for standing by the families but said she was entering the trial with low expectations. She pointed to what she described as gaps in accountability and made clear that families would continue to push for answers.
Start if the trial of the Tempi railway accident, at the `Geopolis` conference center of the University of Thessaly Larissa, Greece on March 23, 2026. / Έναρξη της δίκης του σιδηροδρομικού δυστυχήματος των Τεμπών, στο συνεδριακό κέντρο «Γαιόπολις» του Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας, Λάρισα, 23 Μαρτίου 2026.
Heavy Security Presence Outside Court
Security measures were in place around the trial venue from early in the morning, reflecting the high public interest and emotional intensity surrounding the case.
A drone view shows people gathered outside of the venue prior to the start of the trial of the Tempi train crash, that killed 57 people in Larissa, Greece, March 23, 2026. REUTERS/ Kostas Mantziaris
Multiple police units were deployed at the University of Thessaly campus in Larissa, where the trial is being held. Police vehicles were stationed at the site as authorities monitored the situation.
