Railway Operator Inspects Signalling System Following Near-Collision Incident

Hellenic Railways (OSE), the organization overseeing Greece’s national rail network, has initiated an inspection of its signalling and safety systems after a recent near-collision event.

On Monday, an Intercity train came to a halt just 1.5 kilometers from a stationary suburban railway train in Pieria, located in northern Greece.

OSE confirmed the incident in a statement released on Wednesday, stating that detailed technical examinations are underway along the Thessaloniki to Athens rail line. The investigation aims to understand why the Intercity train received a green light despite another train being stationary on the tracks ahead at the Korinos station.

The automatic signalling system on this section has been operational since August 2023 and holds certification from the Regulatory Authority for Railways (RAS).

Reports indicate that the Intercity train, traveling from Thessaloniki to Athens, carried approximately 200 passengers. It narrowly avoided colliding with the suburban train, which had stopped due to engine failure at Korinos.

The signal for the Intercity train was green, and its operators were unaware of the other train until the suburban train’s driver reported his location via two-way radio. Following a confirmatory phone call, the Intercity train successfully stopped about 1.5 kilometers before reaching the potential collision point.