Tempe train collision case: Victim’s parent calls for investigation into procedural irregularities
On Monday, the station master on duty the night of the fatal Tempe train accident appeared before the appellant investigator. He was granted an extension to provide additional testimony in December. This further questioning aims to uncover any omissions by the Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) regarding train operations and staff procedures, particularly in light of incomplete safety systems such as automatic braking, remote control, and communication between train drivers and station masters.
Audio files from the emergency service 112, also included in the case file, consist mainly of automated location messages sent from passengers’ mobile phones immediately after the collision. Some of these recordings capture the voices and reactions of passengers inside the carriages, though legal experts indicate these audio files provide limited information about the explosion and fire that followed the crash.
In the coming weeks, authorities are expected to verify a private video reportedly showing the commercial train’s full cargo, which could resolve allegations of illicit freight if proven authentic.
Additionally, a chemical analysis by the National Technical University of Athens is underway, with results expected to clarify the cause and rapid spread of the fire immediately after the collision.
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