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| Greek Rail Official Charged in Deadly Train Disaster Released on Bail |
A Greek rail official charged with endangering transport safety and negligent homicide in connection with the country's worst train disaster has been released on bail, according to his lawyer. The stationmaster, whose identity has not been disclosed, was released after posting bail of €10,000 and will be required to report to his local police station twice a month. The suspect is accused of leaving a less experienced stationmaster alone on February 28 after a public holiday, one of the busiest nights of the year for train traffic. Shortly afterward, a passenger train and a freight train collided head-on, resulting in the deaths of 57 people, most of whom were university students returning from a long holiday weekend.
The main stationmaster on duty during the accident has been placed on pretrial detention on the same charges, while two other railway officials are also being charged in connection with the disaster and are due to testify this week. The transport minister has resigned, and the tragedy has sparked violent protests across the country, adding pressure on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ahead of May's elections.
Following the disaster, Greece's rail watchdog identified serious safety problems across the network, including inadequate basic training for critical staff. Railway unions had long warned that the network was underfunded, understaffed, and accident-prone after years of spending cuts. The suspect now faces a potential life sentence for his alleged role in the tragedy.
This incident highlights the importance of proper safety measures in the transport industry and the need for adequate funding and staffing. As the investigation continues, authorities must ensure that those responsible for the disaster are held accountable and that measures are taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The tragedy has shocked the nation and has highlighted the need for urgent action to improve the safety and reliability of Greece's rail network.
