Saturday, Feb. 28, marks the three-year anniversary of the deadly Tempi rail collision, which claimed the lives of 57 people and left an indelible mark on the country’s recent collective memory. Protests and mobilizations were underway throughout Greece on Saturday, with the main theme being a demand for justice and answers.
At Syntagma Square, in central Athens and in front of Parliament, a one-minute pause of silence was observed before addresses began. Syntagma is where the main protest is being held.
According to reports, police had made three arrests and 96 preventive detentions in central Athens on Saturday morning.
From Athens to Thessaloniki and from Patras to Crete, thousands of citizens took part in rallies, marches, and memorial gatherings in more than 70 cities across the country. An association representing relatives of the Tempi victims has called for participation, stressing that “our voice must be heard even louder, so that real justice can be achieved.”
The third anniversary of the disaster is accompanied by various strike actions, with ferry boats docked in port and mass transit systems either shut down or working with skeleton crews. Train services were also cancelled.
Today’s anniversary takes on particular significance, as a long-anticipated trial in the case is expected to begin on March 23 at the three-justice felony appellate court in Larissa. The judicial process, which is expected to be lengthy due to the sheer volume of the criminal indictment and the number of defendants and witnesses, is considered crucial for assigning responsibility and fully investigating the circumstances that led to the collision of the two trains.
Protestors in front of Parliament in Syntagma Square on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
‘This is not a time for silence’
Public transport unions were participating in the mobilizations with work stoppages, while facilitating citizens’ travel to central Athens.
In their announcement, fixed-track rail unions underlined that “three years later, the anger remains alive and the demand for justice resounds louder than ever.” They recall that 11 railway workers were among the victims, referring to long-standing shortages in personnel and modern safety systems. “This is not the time for silence. It is the time for voice and struggle, for the children who never arrived, for the dignity of our lives,” the statement notes.
Tribute by seafarers’ union
Ships will remain docked on Saturday as the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation declared a 24-hour strike. In its statement, the union spoke of a duty of remembrance toward those who were lost and stresses the importance of adhering to safety rules in all forms of transport.
Rallies in Thessaloniki
At the same time, a rally is being held in Thessaloniki, with university and high school students gathering at noon at the Venizelos statue. Meanwhile, six metro stations will remain closed from 10:00 in the morning as part of security measures.
A view of the rally at Aristotelous Square, in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
A Mega Channel report from a memorial service at a monument to the victims at the site of the rail disaster.
