Greeks Take to Streets Protesting Over Deadly Train Crash

A 24-hour nationwide strike and mass protest over the fatal train accident of February 28, which claimed the lives of 57 people, took place on March 8 throughout Greece.

Large protest rallies were organized in Athens, Thessaloniki and in other cities. Students, pupils, teachers, workers, pensioners, artists, and feminist collectives took to the streets demanding the protection of human life and accountability for the train crash.

Students in Athens shout slogans during a nationwide 24-hour strike over the deadly train crash that claimed the lives of at least 57 people, March 2023. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASILIS PSOMAS

"It wasn't an accident, it was murder, down New Democracy [the government]," shouted students in Athens.

In Thessaloniki, the march moved towards the New Railway Station, where the fatal train route was directed. Under the slogans "Never again" and "This crime will not be forgotten," thousands of demonstrators responded to the call issued by labour unions.

On Wednesday, one more body from the fatal crash in Tempi was identified. According to police, it belongs to a Syrian passenger on the train. The number of identified bodies now stands at 56.

People at the protest march in Athens' Syntagma square during a 24-hour nationwide strike, March 8, 2023. The Civil Servants' Confederation announced the strike in the public sector on 8 March, a week after the deadly train collision that left 57 dead. Photo: EPA-EFE/YANNIS KOLESIDIS

"During the last few years, we have always seen that Greece has ranked amongst the 'bad pupils,'" Josef Doppelbauer, executive-director of the EU Railway Agency, said to Euronews.

The agency's latest report in 2022 revealed a gloomy picture of Greece railways; despite the agency's warnings,...