Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 1, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleTens of thousands of Greeks rallied on February 28, 2026 across Athens and other cities marking the third anniversary of the 2023 Tempi rail disaster, demanding justice ahead of a criminal trial set to begin March 23.
ATHENS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Greeks rallied in Athens and other cities on Saturday to mark the anniversary of a 2023 train crash, the country's deadliest rail disaster in history, demanding justice ahead of a criminal trial set to begin next month.
Trains and ferries came to a halt and urban transport was disrupted as workers walked off the job to join the demonstrations. Protesters laid flowers and held banners reading "Justice" outside parliament, where the names of the 57 victims - mostly students - have been spray‑painted in red on the ground.
The victims died when a passenger train and a freight train collided head-on at Tempi in central Greece.
The disaster has become a stark symbol of state failings, including safety lapses and years of neglect of the rail network.
Fuelled by mistrust of politicians, who are largely shielded from prosecution under Greek law, last year’s mass protests were the biggest in years.
Thousands of police officers were deployed in Athens on Saturday. Demonstrations were also held abroad.
"We seek one thing: Justice," said Pavlos Aslanidis, head of the victims' relatives association in a speech.
A judicial investigation concluded this year and dozens of non-politicians will stand trial on March 23 on charges ranging from traffic disruption leading to deaths to negligent manslaughter and causing bodily harm.
Protesters want reforms and political accountability. "It wasn't an accident, it was murder," read one banner in Athens.
Probes have found that a project co-funded by the European Union to install safety systems was launched in 2014 but was years behind schedule in 2023. Relatives have also accused authorities of trying to cover up evidence.
The centre-right government, which denies wrongdoing, says justice will shed light on the case and has pledged full railway reform by 2027.
(Reporting by Renee Maltezou and Lefteris Papadimas; Editing by Louise Heavens)
The rallies commemorate the anniversary of the 2023 Tempi train crash, Greece’s deadliest rail disaster.
Fifty-seven people, mostly students, died in the crash near Tempi in central Greece.
Protestors are demanding justice for victims, political accountability, and reforms to improve railway safety.
The criminal trial is scheduled to begin on March 23, one year after the disaster.
Investigations revealed safety lapses, delays in installing EU-funded safety systems, and allegations of evidence cover-up.
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