Greek Tempi train trial faces adjournment requests and courtroom tension

The criminal trial concerning the 2023 Tempi train derailment in Greece is now in its third hearing at the Larissa Court of First Instance for serious crimes. Thirty‑six defendants, including sixteen senior officials of the state railway operator ERGOSE, face charges of endangering public safety after the accident that killed 57 people.

Defense lawyers for the accused have filed requests to postpone the proceedings, invoking article 59 of the Greek Code of Criminal Procedure, which allows a trial to be deferred when it depends on the outcome of a parallel case. A separate investigation by the European Public Prosecutor Office into the EU‑funded contract 717 – related to signalling upgrades on the Athens‑Thessaloniki line – is being cited as the basis for the adjournment plea.

During the latest hearing, heated exchanges erupted between the families of victims, notably father Nikos Plakias, and the defense counsel representing ERGOSE executives, leading the presiding judge to temporarily suspend the session. One lawyer claimed he was physically assaulted by Plakias, while the prosecutor rejected the adjournment, the request to annul the indictment’s indictment timetable, and a motion to refer pre‑trial questions to the EU Court of Justice. The trial is set to continue with further sessions scheduled through September.