In the extension of the criminal prosecution indicting several persons in the next 24 hours – according to “EtD” information, the appellant investigator, Sot. Bakaimis, who is conducting the investigation into the fatal train tragedy of Tempe.

This Monday, when the management of the OSE announced that it is putting the remote control system into operation at the Larissa railway station, Mr. Bakaimis is expected to open a new round of prosecutions for the head-on collision of the two trains that resulted in the loss of their lives 57 passengerswhile another 181 passengers were injured.

A conflict which, according to the findings of the judicial experts, but also of the Gerapetritis Committee, would have prevented the operation of safety systems (remote control, ETCS, etc.) despite human errors, such as among others the Station Master on the fateful night of February 28, 2023.

Safety systems being put into operation after the fact and 6 months after the tragedy, while they should, according to the much-discussed “717” contract, have been installed 7 years before, in 2016, at least for the disputed section of the railway network, from Domokos to Platys, on which the judicial investigation.

In more detail, Mr. Bakaimis, studying material collected in the context of the investigation, investigates any responsibilities of members of the Board of Directors. of the OSE, the Board of Directors, but also directors of ERGOSE, executives of Hellenic Train, the Railway Regulatory Authority (RAS), but also directors (including service agents) of the Ministry of Transport. Liabilities estimated to cover the period 2016-23, but this is expected to be clarified by prosecutions.

It is noted that, according to the conclusions of the experts, in addition to remote control, the tragedy would have been avoided if the GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications Railway) digital communication system was working, a system that meets the secure communication needs of a modern railway network.

From the forensic investigation so far, it has been proven that GSM-R was closed in the passenger train (IC 62), while in the commercial train (63503) which had two electric cars, the first electric car did not have GSM-R and the second electric car had GSM -R was closed.

The experts in their conclusions even emphasize the non-functioning of the ETCS system installed on the track and the trains, which with the parallel operation of the controlled track fields and the light signaling “would have prevented the incident with certainty and without the requirement of human intervention”. From the judicial investigation it has been proven that the ETCS was deactivated since 19/06/2018, when the last tests were carried out in the area of ​​Thessaloniki.

It is recalled that the OSE administration announced that the Train Surveillance and Control System (ETCS) will be completed at the end of November. According to “EtD” information, in the context of the same investigation, after the expected amendment by the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Bakaimis will issue an Order for the removal of confidentiality in order to verify whether the two train drivers contacted the station records or whether they communicated between them with their work or personal mobiles.