SKAI presents the fatal delays in the delivery of the electronic remote control system. Under the “microscope” are all the contracts that did not lead to the upgrading of the country’s railway network as it was requested.

– In 2014, a project contract was signed for the restoration of the damage suffered by the signaling and remote control system with an obligation to complete in 2016.

It had been decided that two years was enough, as the system was already in place.

– By 2017 only 15% of the project had been delivered (hardware incompatibility between companies)

There were disagreements between the two companies that had undertaken the project. One company considered that the materials installed by the other were inferior in quality and incompatible with theirs, and thus the implementation of the project was “blocked”.

– EU intervention in 2017

In 2017, the EU intervened. for project delivery delay, as the project was financed by Community funds. He addressed a question about the delay to the government and administrations. A financial audit was conducted and assigned to the Financial Audit Committee:

– Financial control 2017-2019 work freeze, and 6 extensions

The project “froze” during this period.

– 2018 decision on supplementary contract

Following the recommendation of the committee, a supplementary contract was decided, amounting to 13 million euros, which provided for the dismantling of the existing system and the installation of a new one.

– 2019 resumption of work

Typically we have a resumption of projects.

– 2021 signing of additional contract (2 extensions)

The Court of Auditors had approved the contract as early as July 2018, but the contract will not be signed until December 2021

– The last extension to the project is given in December 2022

Government sources speak of a 69% delivery of the project, but other information from SKAI reporter Yiannis Souliotis shows a less positive picture. Regarding the Tithorea – Domokos line, it is clarified that it has concluded with another contract.

“Absolutely inaccurate information about the existence of full remote control in 2019”

He issued a press release in the meantime the OSE in which he gives clarifications regarding the functionality of the remote control systems at the Larissa railway station. As pointed out in the press release, the “what is reported about the existence of full remote control in 2019 is completely inaccurate”.

It states in detail:

Following publications presented to the media regarding the functionality of the remote control of the Larissa Station and because what is reported about the existence of complete remote control in 2019 is completely inaccurate, the Organization clarifies the following:

In July 2015 after the fire in area of ​​Litochoro, the remote control of Larissa was significantly degraded and practically ceased to function as a complete remote control. The only possibility that the remote control system maintained was the tracking of the route from the entrance of Larissa to the entrance of Nei Poros. There was no possibility of remote controls for routing between Stations except for arranging individual track changes.

After the fire of July 2019 in the area of ​​Zachari Larissa, cables and equipment were destroyed and the remote control of Larisa went completely out of operation and was abolished.

As part of the upgrade which was recently activated in November 2022it worked and it works the signaling in the Palaiofarsalos – Larissa section which, through the local control panel at the Larissa Station, has the possibility of drawing a route to the Larissa Station in the direction of Neos Poros (without light signals) and with the possibility of following the trains at a distance of approximately 5 kilometers after and 3 kilometers before Larissa station.