With scenes of great tension, angry protests from victims« relatives and continuous interruptions, the trial for the Tempi railway tragedy began on Monday morning, 23 March 2026, at the Conference Centre of the University of Thessaly (»Geopolis").
Focus on the «inappropriate» room
From the first minutes of the process, the choice of the venue caused a storm of reactions. Relatives and lawyers spoke of «crowded people» and third-world conditions, stressing that the limited space did not allow for a fair trial.
- Maria Karystianou: «We are stacked on top of each other like sardines,» he said, stressing that many relatives are forced to stand or stay outside the room.
- Legal objections: Advocates of the families stressed that the situation violates Article 6 of the ECHR on fair trial, asking for the transfer of the proceedings to a more appropriate venue or to another city (Athens or Thessaloniki).
The position of the Chair and the verbal attacks
Despite the protests, the president of the court announced the continuation of the proceedings with the pronouncement of the names of the defendants. The prosecutor suggested that the trial should proceed, noting that justice must finally be done.
Tension escalated when relatives verbally attacked the defendants, shouting: «Open your mouths, we will eat you alive,» which forced the bench to temporarily withdraw.
Relatives« statements: »Cover-up and absence of politics"
The statements of the members of the Victims' Relatives Association outside the court were devastating:
- Pavlos Aslanidis: He described the trial as «historic» and thanked citizens for their support.
- Maria Karystianou: He expressed distrust towards the Justice, referring to the inadequacy of the investigative process and the cover-up among those responsible.
- Christos Houpas: He pointed to the absence of political figures from the witness stand, stressing that the «massacre of Tempe» is hiding behind Article 86 on the responsibility of ministers.
- Nikos Plakias: He pointed out that three years after the crime no one responsible is in prison, calling for the exemplary punishment of all those involved.
The facts of the trial
- Defendants: 36 people in total (OSE, ERGOSE, RAS and Hellenic Train executives). 33 are indicted for felony offences concerning dangerous interference with public transport.
- Witnesses: They exceed 350.
- Security: Heavy riot police and police forces have swarmed the building, and live broadcasts of the trial have been banned.
The process is expected to be lengthy, with the request for a change of venue still in the spotlight as the families warn that they will not accept «discounts» in the administration of justice.
