To undertake the problem of the passage of the railway lines through the city of Larissa experts, who through a feasibility study will give specific and costed proposals and solutions, the city’s agencies agreed during the special meeting of the Municipal Council on Thursday night, in the wake of the deadly accident in Tempe.

The president of the Technical Chamber of Central Western Thessaly, Mr. Nikos Papageorgiou, announced at the meeting an initiative to prepare a relevant study.

In his presentation, the Mayor of Larissa, Mr. Apostolos Kalogiannis, said, among other things, that in the relationship between the Municipality and the OSE, the problem was always on the side of the OSE “which never bent down in the way it should have to solve the security issues and not only”, while any solutions proposed were not feasible. He noted that there must be two sets of measures, in the short term the necessary ones that directly resolve in the shortest possible time security issues and in the long term that are related to the resolution of the crossing of the railway line.

He said that the right thing to do is to decide on a study by a research group that will investigate all the data, while he warned that if after Easter there are no discussions and commitments, the city must go to mobilizations.

The Regional Governor of Thessaly, Mr. Kostas Agorastos, said, among other things, that “in 2019, the Region, seeing that there was no response, came forward with an innovative sound curtain design throughout Greece”.

Regarding the underpasses, he said that today they do not offer anything, they create problems and that is why he proposed to do a preliminary study with “cut and cover tunnelling” (so above ground concrete tunnels) in the area from Ypsilantou to Agias.

“We have more churches next to the railway lines of the city than in the churches of the districts” stated the parliamentary representative of PASOK – KINAL Mrs. Evangelia Liakoulis, adding that “unfortunately, our assertive framework will have to be redefined… We are asking for a study with very specific features but not ministry service study. We want a special study that will be done only for the city with costing and budget… in order to talk on paper…”.

In his intervention via Skype, the member of parliament from Larisa of the N.D. Mr. Christos Kellas noted that “it is the duty of all of us to do what is necessary immediately so that it does not happen again”. He asked for a technically possible and financially feasible solution.

Larisa MP of SYRIZA, Mr. Vassilis Kokkalis, said, among other things, that “a single will must be expressed by all of us and specialists be assigned to draw up a study quickly without waiting for any Gerapetritis and any minister or deputy minister. The more we work and the less we talk the better for the city.” He closed his posting wishing for “seriousness and immediate action”.

The head of the major opposition in the municipal council, Mr. Thanasis Mamakos, noted that a solution to the problem of the lines must be demanded immediately. He spoke of the timely interest of the Municipal Authority, recalling that just two months before the accident, the Mayor held an event with a project report and submission of proposals for the future of the city. “You talked for an hour or so and we didn’t find a single word on the subject of railways, he continued, although the bells had rung earlier. From 2014 to 2017, there has been absolutely no intervention by the municipality on the matter…” He closed by addressing Mr. Kalogiannis, telling him that “if you intend to start, tomorrow I will come to your office and we will roll up our sleeves…”

“The dilemma is whether the people’s needs will be served or profit” said the head of the “People’s Gathering” Mr. Petros Krikis commenting on the constant request to underground the lines.

The head of the “Values ​​Initiative”, Mr. Panagiotis Goulas, agreed that there must be dynamic mobilizations “to get the best we can get… We are preparing for the study that will show proposals and costings for definitive solutions”.

The head of the “Renewal Momentum” Mr. Nikos Gambroulas argued that “without resolving the issue of Larissa, the risk of a fatal accident will always be at our feet. We are all now aware of the problem and are asking for an immediate and effective solution. This project is not local but national. It will resolve security issues affecting the entire country…”.

The municipal councilor of “Larisaion Koinos” Mr. Dimitris Tsiaras commented that “this infamous study should be holistic for the issue of crossings and security issues in the city, including, in addition to the lines, the Customs, the depot and the station… A study that will be a tool and frontline for assertion”. He also appeared as an advocate of forms of mobilization.

The president of the Technical Chamber of Central-Western Thessaly, Mr. Nikos Papageorgiou, noted, among other things, that “immediately after Easter we will determine the exact outline and objective of the relevant working group” whose goal will be to prepare a feasibility study.

You can watch the whole discussion here: