Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transport, received an opinion from the Chairman of the Expert Commission on the fatal train accident Pace.

As emphasized by the Commission, “The Opinion does not concern the imputation or distribution of duties, a competence which, according to the Constitution and the law, belongs only to the competent judiciary”, and its main task was “identify and identify problems in the entire structure of persons involved in the operation of railway transportBodies, organizations and bodies”.

The committee proposes a series of immediate, “short and medium term measures for the safe, orderly and efficient operation of rail transport in Greece”.

The finding will be duly brought to the attention of the Attorney of Appeals of Larisa, who is leading the investigation, with a request that it be published immediately by the Ministry.

Commission press release:

“The expert commission, created and formed by the decision of the Secretary General of Transport of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport No. 71651/06-03-2023 (BE1310), spoke today, Tuesday, 18-04. -2023 to the Minister of State responsible for Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Georgios Gerapetritis, his opinion, investigating and highlighting systemic problems and malfunctions related to the railway accident that occurred on February 28, 2023 at the entrance to the Tempi Valley. .

The Commission assures that it has worked intensively with a heightened sense of responsibility from 06/03/2023 to the present day and performed its duties independently and impartially, evaluating by purely scientific criteria all the data collected by it from all parties involved.

The Opinion does not concern the assignment or distribution of responsibilities, powers that, in accordance with the Constitution and the law, belong only to the competent judiciary, which are already actively working in this direction.

The main concern of the members of the Commission was to, after analyzing the circumstances of the tragic incident, identify and identify problems in the entire structure of the bodies involved in the operation of railway transport, bodies, organizations and authorities and in the exercise of the powers of individuals or legal entities and, in particular, to propose solutions which will contribute – in the context of other investigations, studies, proposals and initiatives of the relevant bodies and authorities – to the adoption of all necessary measures that will prevent the same or similar accidents in the future.

In particular, the Conclusion proposes a set of immediate, short and medium term measures for the safe, orderly and efficient operation of rail transport in Greece.

The Committee wishes that the Opinion be used solely for the above purpose and in no case be the subject of political or partisan exploitation or confrontation, which is inconsistent with the event under investigation, which is tragic for all Greeks. .

THE PRESIDENT:

IOANNIS KONSTANTINOS CHALKIAS

Honorary Chairman of the State Legal Council

PARTICIPANTS:

VASSILIOS PROPHILLIS

Professor of transport engineering at the Thracian University of Democritus.

CHRIST PIRGIDES

Professor of Railways at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.