The long-awaited trial for the Tempi train disaster — one of the deadliest accidents in Greece’s history — has been scheduled to begin on March 23, 2026, in the city of Larissa, three years after the tragic collision that claimed dozens of lives.
A total of 36 defendants are set to face serious criminal charges, most on felony counts. The trial will take place in a specially prepared courtroom, designed to accommodate the large number of lawyers representing both victims’ families and the accused.
Among those standing trial are the station master whose fatal errors placed two trains on the same track, colleagues who were absent from duty at the time, as well as senior officials from the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry, the state-owned company ERGOSE, and Hellenic Train, the Italian-owned operator that still manages Greece’s railway network.
The case file exceeds 60,000 pages, containing hundreds of witness statements, technical assessments, and expert reports that aim to shed light on the chain of failures that led to the disaster.
No active or former political officials will be tried in this proceeding. However, separate cases remain open at Greece’s Special Court. Former deputy minister Christos Triantopoulos and former transport minister Kostas Karamanlis, along with ministry secretaries from 2016 to 2023, have been referred to judicial councils on misdemeanor charges related to the handling of the accident site and broader oversight failures.
