The Hellenic Railway Organization (OSE) is responding to a press release from the Railway Regulatory Authority (RAS) stating that inadequate training of stationmaster Larisa, who was arrested for a fatal accident in Tempi.

In a detailed report, the RAS writes that it has found that a specific training cycle was performed incorrectlywhich includes the head of station Larisa and other EfE employees.

The OSE responds that from July 2022, the document “Basic Training of Traffic Service Workers”, brought, among other things, to the Russian Academy of Sciences, approved the implementation of Basic Training of Traffic Service Workers of Station Masters.

“This circular explicitly mentions how training is carried out. In addition, by a document dated 09/03/2023, the Organization informed the regulatory body in detail about the way to implement Cycle B,” continues the Organization.

The plenary meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences unanimously decided to accept emergency temporary measures due to insufficient training of personnel in critical specialties. RAS “points” to the infrastructure manager guilty of insufficient training, i.e. EfE, and invites him to submit written explanations, as well as corrective measures, within five working days.

Otherwise, he states, he “threatens the railway infrastructure manager with the name ‘Greek Railway Organization Limited’ and the distinctive title ‘OSE SA’ with imposition of a fine in the amount of one hundred thousand euros (100,000 euros) for each day of non-compliance with the provisions of this Charter.

OSE announcement in detail:

“It is extremely unpleasant in a very difficult and painful situation for the Greek society and the Greek railway that official bodies express opinions and take decisions without a thorough investigation and documentation of those to whom they refer, especially when there were participants in them on which they decide.

Regarding the press release from the Railway Regulatory Authority (RAS), today, Friday, March 17, 2023, the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) notes the following:

• By the document of July 28, 2022 “Basic Training of Traffic Service Workers” brought to the attention of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Department of Education and Training of the Organization approved the Basic Training of Traffic Service Workers for Station Managers. The above document describes the process and subject of training, which are fully compatible with the Training Manual, approved by the Regulatory Body itself by its decision of 07/29/2021.
• This circular explicitly mentions the way in which the training is conducted. In addition, by a document dated 03.09.2023, the Organization informed the Regulator in detail about the implementation of cycle B, providing:

A) Attendance sheets – practical internships per month from all Inspections of the Organization (Athens, Patras, Larissa, Lianoklady, Thessaloniki) in which station masters were found undergoing training with a report on thematic sections to Inspection trainers.

B) Teaching material of theoretical education, which has been divided into two cycles, so that it goes along with the stage of the educational process and serves as a supplement and support material for practical training in real conditions.

Certificates of completion of the procedure were never requested (neither during the on-site inspection, nor with the document of the Office dated March 9, 2023 on the internal investigation into the accident on February 28, 2023).

Certificates of completion of educational programs are certified by internal correspondence of the interested departments of the Organization and can be provided to any competent authority upon request. Therefore, it also ended up at the disposal of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which is entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring security issues.

The Organization, acting fully within the statutory limits and aware of the sensitivity of the issue to public opinion, will respond with absolute accuracy, detail and documentation to everything that the Office mentions (initially on the basis of “strong instructions”).

Until then, it is better to publicly express only final and reasonable conclusions. These are hours of responsibility for all, not hours of distribution of responsibility.”