Gradual restart of train routes from next Wednesday, March 22 to April 11, with parallel measures to strengthen transport security, Minister of State Giorgos Gerapetritis announced. In particular, Mr. Gerapetritis said:

Restarting the railway is necessary to regain public confidence. In addition, delaying the start of operation, even with a limited number of routes, poses serious risks of theft and/or sabotage. Finally, there is a very serious problem in freight transport to neighboring states.
Restarting a railway network after a long period of service interruption requires a series of actions so that they start in terms of maximum possible safety. These actions are separated in 2 categories: infrastructure inspection and start of routes.

A. Infrastructure Inspection

When trains are disrupted, infrastructure problems occur. In particular, the rail becomes oxidized and covered with rust, as a result of which the continuous contact of the line with the wheels of the trains is lost. Thus, the position of the train is not detected by the signal. For this reason, a train must be trial run to remove the rust. In addition, there may be obstacles on the surface of the tracks created during the stoppage of traffic, such as broken rail, stones, tires and drifts from sediments. Visual inspection and special drills should run through the network to remove any obstruction.
The inspection of the entire network is estimated to last around 4 days.

B. Commencement of Routes

When there has been a general stoppage of routes in a railway network for a sufficient period of time, longer than 3 days, the restart is done gradually and over a period of several weeks. Criteria for determining the phases of the gradual restart are: social needs, mainly in suburban and peri-urban routes used by workers; international obligations for the operation of freight lines; needs linked to tourism and related activities (eg cog routes).
In light of the above, there will be a gradual restart of operations in 5 phases (every five days) with a proposed start on 22.03.2023: Specifically:

22.03.2023. Restart:

– Piraeus Suburban – Athens – Acharnon Railway Center – Airport
– Suburban Kanza – Liosia
– Suburban Athens – Oinoi – Chalkida
– Thessaloniki – Florina
– Thessaloniki – Drama
– Alexandroupoli – Xanthi
– Alexandroupoli – Ormenio
– Kato Achaia – Patras
– Patras – Rio
– Diakofto – Kalavryta
– Olympia – Pyrgos – Katakolo
– Volos – Milies
– Freight from Thessaloniki to Idomeni and Promachona (1 or 2 pairs)
– Freight Thriasio – Thessaloniki (1 or 2 pairs per day)

27.03.2023. Reboot (optional):

– Suburban Athens – Acharna Railway Center – Corinth – Kiato – Aegio

01.04.2023. Reboot (optional):

InterCity Athens – Thessaloniki (1 morning pair)

Thessaloniki – Larisa suburban train

Palaiofarsalos – Kalambaka

Larissa – Volos

Lamia – Stylida

06.04.2023. Add (after evaluating conditions):

InterCity Athens – Thessaloniki (1 or 2 pairs per day)

Freight Thriasio – Thessaloniki (1 or 2 pairs per day)

11.04.2023. Add (after evaluating conditions):

Other routes

At least until the final delivery of the technological network upgrade projects, the following will additionally apply:

a. Immediate security boost

5 stations closed (will only operate for boarding – disembarking).

Staffing of open stations with 2 station masters.

Speed ​​reduction in non-signaled sections to 80 km and 100 km for suburban/freight and passenger trains respectively.

Staffing with 2 drivers of all suburban trains

Staffing of suburban trains with 1 attendant.

Staffing with 3 InterCity Athens – Thessaloniki attendants compared to the 2 that exist today.

Internal Audit Service at OSE and Hellenic Train.

b. Problem solving mechanisms

Gradual installation by Hellenic Train of recorders on trains with the possibility of recording cabin communications between drivers and OSE traffic staff (station masters, traffic controllers and remote controllers).

Creation of a Technical Help Desk in order to exchange technical information between the train drivers and the technical base for the immediate resolution of technical problems during the course of a train.

Passenger service at important stations of the railway network (especially Athens, Larissa, Thessaloniki, Lianokladi).

c. Human resources management

Expeditious completion of OSE staff recruitment based on programming for the year 2022 which is pending.

For reasons of speed, the existing 2022 announcement will also cover the 2023 recruitment planning for critical areas of maintenance, signalling, remote control and electric propulsion, as well as technical staff.

Stay of employees with a service card.

Investigating the possibility of renewing contracts with the level crossing guarding staff.

Reassessment of training and retraining of critical personnel.

Activation of psychological support for critical OSE and Hellenic Train personnel by specialized medical personnel.

d. Infrastructure upgrade and surveillance

Strict adherence to the completion schedules of the signaling and remote control projects of the main axis.

Immediate tender announcement for the demolition and maintenance of tunnels.

Operation as soon as possible of the GSM-R system on rolling stock for all employee communications on the OSE rail network, making the VHF system secondary.

Police protection of infrastructure at critical points of the network.

e. Regulatory interventions

Routing update of the General Traffic Regulation.

Criminal upgrade of the crimes of theft and theft of railway material.

Inclusion in the support measures for the families of those who died in railway accidents for a decade.