Strikes halt trains and ferries in Greece a year after country's worst rail disaster that killed 57
Widespread strikes in Greece halted trains, ferries and much of the capital’s public transport in protests timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the country’s deadliest rail crash, which killed 57 people
ATHENS, Greece — Widespread strikes in Greece halted trains, ferries and much of the capital's public transport on Wednesday in protests timed to coincide with the first anniversary of the country's deadliest rail crash, which killed 57 people.
The train disaster on the night of Feb. 28, 2023 shocked the country. Many of the victims were university students heading back to class after a public holiday when their passenger train slammed into an oncoming cargo train after the two were accidentally put onto the same track heading in opposite directions.
Wednesday’s strike disrupted public transport in the capital, Athens, and left ferries tied up in ports as unions pressed demands to further dismantle wage controls imposed during Greece's near decade-long financial crisis. Flights were unaffected after a court ruled that participation in the walk-out by air traffic controllers was illegal. Farmers and university students have also been staging anti-government protests in recent weeks.
At the scene of the rail crash in Tempi, central Greece, relatives of the victims gathered for a memorial service as churches across the country tolled their bells 57 times Wednesday morning to honor the dead.
“This is a pain that will never end, a wound that will never heal,” said Panos Routsi, whose 22-year-old son, Denis, was killed.
He said he supported a petition that has gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures to strip parliamentary immunity from lawmakers responsible for rail safety when the collision occurred.
“What I
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