The general issue of transport safety has become an integral part of the public debate in recent days. transport highlight various omissions and problematic points.

So it’s already booked. urgent preliminary investigation in a criminal case Antonis Eleftherianos, head of the Prosecutor’s Office of First Instance (for 2/3), for improper signaling of a commuter train from the station “Dukissis Plakentias” to “Airport” (according to a complaint from employees of the Railway Federation), and in recent hours security issues have also been included in the “frame”. ISAPbut also in Metro Piraeus.

Publication by the Data Journalists for journalism group inflow of sea water from the port of Piraeus in the railway tunnel between the metro stations “Piraeus” and “City Theatre”, as well as for 391 damage and failures in recent months on new sections of Line 3 prompted the intervention of the public prosecutor, Isidoros Dogiakos, who demanded a preliminary investigation.

ISAP has a lot of problems

At the same time, there are more claims to ISAP, as to the oldest mode of transport. One of them concerns ventilation systemwhich was established before the Olympics.

However, in 2015, for the first time, this system was found not to work. at Omonia station and several related reports were sent by the stationmasters to STASY. Panos Kontoyannis, president of the workers’ union STASY, complains that the ventilation was once again found to be out of order this year after incidents and chemicals dropped at one of the first pro-Tempi rallies.

In a statement, STASY says that: “Autonomous ventilation systems have been installed and are operating in the underground tunnel, and at the points of connection with metro lines 2 and 3, the operation of the system is being further strengthened.”

Especially for the controversial Omoniya station, he points out that the ventilation system is working and sufficient to remove smoke from the docks if necessary. According to information, the system in question does not always work, but only when needed.

However, the STASY union is pushing for ventilation in Omonia, posting a photo showing it not working, while wondering if it can be dealt with. remotely from the station office or Operations Control Center.

It also leaves thorns for air conditioner operation there is a problem at Omonia station that STASY herself mentions:
The air conditioning system is in the process of maintenance, so it will be available before the summer.”

Fire safety system

The Union continues to complain about omissions in fire safety plan at the Piraeus ISAP station, which raises questions about the overall handling of fire incidents on the network.

While Piraeus has fire extinguishers, fire hydrants and three large emergency exits, Mr. Kontoyannis points out that 2018 it was found that the station’s fire safety plan was changedwithout the consent of the fire department. Then, with a change in legislation, the fire department was no longer responsible for approving this plan.

The position of STASY is as follows: “At the entire length of the tunnel, as well as at the stations, a fire-fighting network equipped with a fire detection system has been installed and operates.”

It can be argued that as long as the station is equipped, everything is fine. Mr. Contogianni’s counterargument is that it is not known whether the relevant fire safety permits have expired, and that fire extinguishing equipment they have never been tested see if they work or not.

Workers ask for additional safety briefings

Moreover, the following statement is unanimous, not only of the president of the STASY workers’ union, but also of other workers and trade unionists with whom “K” had contact: they do not remember the last time any exercises or drills in case of emergency, evacuation, fire coke.

“Because I have been with ISAP since 2008, I have not seen anything done test fire safety systems, some evacuation of the station, let’s see if all emergency exits are open or closed,” says Panos Kontoyannis.

For its part, STASY says workers on all three metro lines are being given “ongoing training” on safety issues. Especially for electric ones, according to information, they took place in 2022. release exercises for two people at the train stations in Elliniko and Sepolia, while there was a pause for two years of the corona virus.

“In 2022, for the 1st line, they were trained in safety issues 140 technical service workers and 20 train drivers are on or near the track, and another 80 conductors are expected to complete training during 2023. In addition, retraining of train drivers on labor protection and safety issues is planned.

ISAP staff are not the only ones who would like to see more mobility in terms of training. Costas Patseas, a member of the STASY Health and Safety Committee and a Route 2 driver, also admits that in addition to the basic subject training that everyone takes, there have been years of retraining in things like emergency systems management, fire detection and fire safety.

When asked why, in his opinion, this is happening, he “points” to another chronic problem – a shortage of personnel. “We work at 2/3rds of what we can do,” he says characteristically, acknowledging that when the burden falls on the shoulders of a few, time for learning fades into the background.

In any case, Mr. Patsias reassures: “Metro lines 2 and 3 are reliable and safe. There is no danger to the public.”

Prosecutorial investigation Piraeus