An accident as tragic as Tempe was preceded by many setbacks and inconsistencies. For decades by those in charge of system design, more recently by those who implement and control procedures, and finally by field personnel. The bereavement is a reminder that the problems in the country are very deep. The issue also has an obvious economic dimension—how we allocate resources and what behavioral incentives we create to promote well-being, even at the most important level of protecting and securing human life.

Obviously, after an accident, an immediate response at the operational level is required to ensure the safe operation of at least part of the system. However, follow-up treatment is equally important. One might think that the problem was caused by insufficient funding or arose recently, but the development, maintenance and operation of the railway network has been problematic for at least four decades, with an extremely high cost of public money, the Greek and European taxpayer and a poor quality of service. One could also attribute the collapse to the recent privatization of the transport project – maybe it was not done in the best way, but the network and supervision are public. The progress made in the aspects of train operation is clearly insufficient, and cleaner changes are required for substantial improvement.

Moreover, problems exist in other critical areas, even in the narrower area of ​​the safety of human life. Are we sure that traffic, from issuing permits to guarding and maintaining roads, minimizes the number of casualties every day? Or do our hospitals always have strict procedures in place to increase the patient’s chances of recovery? Comparison with other European countries is not in favor. Already during the previous ten-year crisis, the need to change procedures at many levels, to integrate new technologies, so that there are better services, was revealed. Somewhere it went satisfactorily, somewhere not. The general question of reorganizing the public sector and how it coordinates investment and markets remains a big issue in the country.

A transport authority with greater weight and broader jurisdiction would contribute more to the rationalization and modernization of services than a weak railway authority.

The government’s simplest response to a tragic accident would be to pledge whatever resources are needed to keep the current system running perfectly. However, a real solution requires a change in incentives and processes for managers and civil servants, as well as for enterprises implementing projects. The heavy influence indirectly exerted by the functioning of the bureaucratic state, combined with the unimaginably slow resolution of legal disputes, manifests itself in the dramatic form of the death of our brethren.

Special complex incisions are also needed. Strategy means choice, especially when financial and human resources are limited. Train design will be effective in both construction and operation if it is combined with the design of other networks. Today it is important to concentrate resources on the main axis of the network, on the movement of goods in connection with ports and on a suburban project. Many other connections have social costs many times greater than the benefits. Without resource targeting, there will be no quality services.

At the same time, it is extremely important to strengthen the state that goes beyond the current government. Regulators play a critical role at the international level and can contribute to the continuity of planning, expertise and independent oversight. To do this, however, they must be endowed with resources, clear responsibilities and strong accountability. A transport authority with greater weight and broader jurisdiction would contribute more to the rationalization and modernization of services than a weak railway authority. Similarly, they apply in other ongoing areas where the work of independent bodies is critical, such as energy and competition. Their substantial strengthening is a necessary condition for development.

Mr. Nikos Vettas is the CEO of IOBE and a professor at the Athens University of Economics.