Pavlos Marinakis was questioned by Jacobin Greece about the layoffs planned by Hellenic Train on the grim anniversary of the two-year mark since the Tempe train crash. He expressed ignorance on the matter, mentioning that he would follow up with information from the competent Ministry.

According to employees’ complaints, the company is halting ticket sales at 34 stations to eliminate their operational costs and increase its profits.

The government spokesperson stated, among other things, that “those who may be criticizing Hellenic Train or any public sector organization for mass layoffs, were the same people who, two or three weeks ago, criticized the Government for providing regular funding to pay workers and cover electricity costs.”

It’s important to note that Hellenic Train (known as TrainOSE at the time), which operates passenger and freight trains under the privately owned Hellenic Railways Organisation, was acquired in September 2017 by the Italian national railway company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane.

The reporter naturally raised the question: “If the money for salaries and electricity comes from the state subsidy, then why doesn’t the state directly operate the railways and avoid handing them over to a third party who profits from it?”

In response to this straightforward question, Pavlos Marinakis explained, among other things, that :

“This is a broader discussion—philosophical, political, and ideological—about the collaboration between the private and public sectors, and I assume you don’t want to delve into it in this specific discussion.”

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