Serious questions about her Railway Regulatory Authority (RAS) and the Hellenic Train arose, according to circles of the majority of the Commission of Inquiry for Tempi, in the context of today’s testimony of the president of RAS, Mr. I. Tsiaparikou.

As they noted, “the meeting was monopolized by the revelations about the state of health of the driver of the fatal train (2 strokes with a history of recurrence) that came to light yesterday and today.”

According to the circles of the majority, who spoke of a “ball of blame”, “Ms. Tsiaparikou testified that train drivers are required to undergo strict medical examinations, for which Hellenic Train is responsible, and then their files are sent sealed to RAS. The particular driver, he claimed, had passed all the required tests. However, the opinion approved by RAS and presented by Mrs. Tsiaparikou to the committee does not include either AMKAbut not even an identity number, raising major questions about its validity, but also the reliability of the entire process of checking medical certificates by the independent authority and, in general, about its overall operation”.

“After that”, added the circles of the majority, “the head of the majority in the committee, Mr. Tsavdaridis, requested that the complete file of the train driver be submitted, while Mr. Kokkalis, for his part SYRIZAleft suspicions of a cover-up, saying characteristically that “there were probably responsibilities to those who issued the health certificates, let’s look into that too.”

Speaking, subsequently, about the process “From Annas to Caiaphas…” the majority circles pointed out: “Why can Hellenic Train be responsible for the medical examinations and the suitability of its personnel, but RAS is the one that has the final due to the certification of this suitability, through the Register of certified doctors it maintains, precisely for this specific purpose. Have you ever checked out those doctors who issue drivers’ health certificates?

From the incomplete document he submitted to the committee, this certainly did not emerge, with the result that all MPs agreed on the sloppiness and problematic management on the part of RAS, but also of Hellenic Train, for such a critical issue concerning the safety of passengers.

It is also worth noting that the majority of the committee, at the initiative of Mr. Tsavdaridis, requested at the beginning of this meeting to be held behind closed doors in order to protect the driver’s personal data. The side, however, of SYRIZA and other parties denied it, bearing full responsibility for the communicative exploitation of the issue. It is no coincidence that the first leaks to come out were in the official opposition-friendly media…” observed the majority circles in the inquiry committee.