Hellenic Train has denied allegations that it withheld audio recordings of conversations between company executives and train drivers before and after the fatal Tempe train crash. The company insists that responsibility for storing such files lies with OSE, Greece’s state railway infrastructure manager.

“Following recent reports alleging the concealment of audio files containing communications between Hellenic Train and train drivers at the time of the accident, we clarify that, under the General Traffic Regulation, all such recordings are archived by OSE, which has sole responsibility for coordinating and managing rail traffic,” the company stated.

Hellenic Train further emphasised that it does not have a system for recording audio communications and therefore does not possess any such material. “For this reason, when the Attica Security Directorate visited our offices on 14 March 2023 to seize any relevant recordings in accordance with an investigative order, it confirmed that no such material existed within the company,” the statement read.

The company reiterated its full cooperation with the authorities, stating: “From day one, we have remained at the disposal of the judiciary and relevant bodies, supporting investigations with full transparency and assisting in every possible way to clarify the causes of the accident.”

The controversy over the missing audio files stems from reports by investigative journalist Vasilis Lambropoulos, who revealed on a MEGA news broadcast that the families of victims had requested access to these recordings as part of the judicial inquiry. Their request covered files from OSE, ERGOSE, and Hellenic Train, specifically conversations between Hellenic Train and its train drivers in the period leading up to the crash.

The families later appealed to the Directorate of Forensic Laboratories, after the files had still not been handed over. It was subsequently discovered that the forensic laboratory had sent the relevant documents and audio files to the appellate investigator in July 2023, but they had not been presented in the case.

Lambropoulos reported that documents now being examined indicate Hellenic Train did not provide these files. However, it was also determined that the missing recordings pertain to OSE and ERGOSE, not Hellenic Train. The company has submitted files containing security protocols but not the requested conversations.

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