In an interview with Topontiki, Mr Dimitris Koutsiavtis, President of the Panhellenic Union of Traction Personnel (PEPE), discussed the ongoing attacks by Hellenic Train on the workers' trade union rights, as well as the company’s cynical stance regarding the presence of a second driver in the driving cabin, at times referring to it as a "haemorrhage". He also highlighted that two years after the Tempe train disaster, the E.T.C.S. train protection system still isn't operational anywhere, and the chances of a new accident "have not been eliminated."

Specifically, in his interview with Topontiki, Mr Koutsiavtis emphasised that “the E.T.C.S. system is not functioning anywhere! There was some progress during the first five months after Tempe. A significant portion of the signalling and remote control systems on the Athens-Thessaloniki axis was activated. But then, time seemed to freeze, and after the Daniel storm, everything went backwards.”

He went on to admit that although the likelihood of a new accident has decreased, it has not been entirely eliminated.

“Consider this: about two years after the Daniel storm, we still have single-track lines for about 100 km. In Volos, the line hasn’t been restored; in Kalampaka, Stylida, Florina, and Drama, trains aren’t running, and we haven’t even started discussing the Peloponnese (Argos, Tripoli, Kalamata, Nafplio), where, since the bailout packages era, there has been no talk of reopening the lines,” he detailed.

What stands out even further is his revelation regarding Hellenic Train’s treatment of the second driver in the locomotive cabin. He claimed that, in some cases, the presence of a second driver is seen as a “haemorrhage“. This statement raises questions, especially given the already existing staff shortages in the rail network.

President of engine drivers’ union also reminded listeners of the union’s persistent and constant warnings about the Tempe tragedy and the condition of the railway network, stressing that:

“if the signalling system had been operational in Tempe, the drivers would have seen it, and the trains would have stopped.”

Lastly, he addressed the company’s attacks on the trade union rights of workers, making significant accusations. For instance, he pointed out that “just recently, four train drivers, who are union representatives, were summoned by Hellenic Train’s management without valid reason. Our union had warned from the start about the conditions on the railway network (Infrastructure) before Tempe, but there has been resistance from the company. Just in 2024 alone, train drivers were suspended for 300 days because they were called to disciplinary hearings. In some cases, there was fault, and they were rightfully summoned; in others, they were entirely blameless.”

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