Giorgos Gerapetritis: “The causes of the accident will be investigated until the end”

Today 08.05.2023, signatures “fell” in the Maximos Palace between the Greek Minister of Territory Giorgos Gerapetritis and the French Minister of Transport Clément Beaune regarding the issues of the railway network for the transfer of the relevant know-how.

The agreement in question will then be specified with more specific agreements between the competent bodies, in particular the Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF) and the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE).

Today’s agreement states:

• in the prevention of railway accidents,
• in the regulation of liability issues of railway operators,
• in the organization and supervision of rail transport in the field of safety,
• in the education and training of the staff,
• in the organization of railway traffic control centres, and
• in the organization of committees and the establishment of procedures for the investigation of railway accidents.

THE Minister of State Giorgos Gerapetritis in the introductory statement he initially referred to the long-standing friendship and cooperation of the two countries. He spoke about the Tempe train tragedy, pointing out that the Greek government’s position is unwavering to investigate the causes and circumstances of the accident to the end. “In this context, the judicial investigation continues at a rapid pace, while a few weeks ago an administrative Conclusion was submitted by an ad hoc independent Committee of Experts that thoroughly highlighted the human errors and systemic faults of the Greek railway, many of which are of a long-term nature” said the minister while also talking about the “safe restart of the Greek railway”.

Here is the introductory statement of the Minister of State: Honorable Mr. Minister, Dear Clement, It is a great pleasure and honor to welcome you today at the Maximos Palace, the seat of the Greek government, and to seal once again the long-standing friendship and cooperation that the countries sustain us at, inter alia, historical, cultural, value and strategic levels. In dealing with challenges, we have always had common understanding and close cooperation, a practice that was confirmed in our very recent history by dealing, in a common way, with the challenges created by the modern crises in health, energy, international geopolitical events but and in our national issues. The train accident in Tempe on February 28 was an unprecedented national tragedy that marked us all. And precisely because of the magnitude of this tragedy, the unjust loss of 57 of our fellow human beings, the pain continues to weigh on all of us.

The unwavering position of the Greek government is to investigate the causes and circumstances of the accident until the end. In this context, the judicial investigation continues at a rapid pace, while a few weeks ago an administrative Conclusion was filed by an ad hoc independent Committee of Experts that thoroughly highlighted the human errors and systemic faults of the Greek railway, many of which are of a long-term nature. We have already moved forward to restart the railway operation with an upgraded level of safety while ensuring that the new signaling and remote control systems on the main rail axis are completed in time.

French companies that have undertaken a significant part of this upgrade are also actively contributing to this goal. However, the substantial and qualitative upgrade of the functionality and safety of the Greek railway requires regular re-evaluation and adjustment based on the data of each era. For this purpose, it is necessary to apply good international practices with the transfer of know-how as well as human resources. In this context, the French Ministry of Transport with its experience and the French railway with its high international prestige and expertise are our valuable helpers. After a telephone conversation between the French President and the Greek Prime Minister, we met, Mr. Minister, at the beginning of last month and had the opportunity to discuss ways of substantial cooperation. Today, after creative preparation, we are in the extremely happy position of signing a cooperation agreement between the two ministries, which will then be specified with more specific agreements between the relevant bodies, in particular the Société nationale des chemins de fer français (SNCF) and the Organization Railways of Greece (OSE). Our agreement today states:

• in the prevention of railway accidents,
• in the regulation of liability issues of railway operators,
• in the organization and supervision of rail transport in the field of safety,
• in the education and training of the staff,
• in the organization of railway traffic control centres
• and in the organization of committees and the establishment of procedures for the investigation of railway accidents. In the hope that this agreement will be the beginning of a long and beneficial cooperation that will improve the level of rail transport, I thank you very much, Mr. Minister, as well as all the members of the French delegation.