Koundura to the TRAN committee for Tempi: “In Greece there is no clear mechanism to ensure the safety of the railway” – 2024-09-05 11:45:05

The SYRIZA MEP and vice-president of the TRAN committee, Elena Kountoura, asked for answers on the tragic issue of Tempe and the safety of the Greek railways during the first meeting of the committee.

Addressing Joseph Doppelbauer, Executive Director of the European Railway Agency (ERA), she raised questions about the tragic accident in Tempe, while at the same time asking for answers on serious issues related to ERA’s responsibilities. He also asked to receive answers about the actions that have been taken regarding Greece’s compliance with European legislation regarding railway safety.

Among other things, in her statement, Ms. Kountoura stated that in Greece there is no clear mechanism that generally ensures the safety of the railway, as in practice this responsibility has not been effectively transferred to an agency, with the result that it is not exercised by anyone : Neither by the Railway Regulatory Authority (RAS), nor by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

At another point, he emphasized the fact that the process of defining and notifying safety rules is not applied consistently, perhaps leading to increased risks, but also that there was no functional investigation body for railway accidents in Greece. Consequently, as Ms. Kountoura said, the independent investigation of serious accidents as defined in the relevant EU directive is not guaranteed.

The entire statement of Elena Kountoura:

“Mr. Doppelbauer, in Greece in February 2023 a tragic accident occurred in Tempi, which claimed the lives of 57 people. A few months later, the European Union Agency for Railways drafted a detailed opinion to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Transport on the implementation of European railway safety legislation.

The ERA’s finding reportedly concludes that there are numerous and major breaches of European legislation by Greece on railway safety and interoperability.

For example, I mention:

– In Greece there is no clear mechanism that generally ensures the safety of the railway, as in practice there has not been an effective transfer of this authority to an entity, with the result that it is not exercised by anyone: Not even by the Railway Regulatory Authority (RAS) , nor by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

-There is no assurance that the responsibility for the safe operation of the railway system and the control of the risks associated with it rests with infrastructure managers and railway undertakings, each for its own part.

– The process of defining and communicating safety rules is not applied consistently, possibly leading to increased risks.

-There was no operational railway accident investigation body in Greece and the independent investigation of serious accidents as defined in the relevant EU directive is not guaranteed.

So the question arises:

How is it possible for the ERA to issue in 2021 a single safety certificate with a 5-year duration in Greece and at the same time list such important safety gaps in its conclusion? Did you conduct an actual security check? I personally urge ERA to review every safety certification and operating license issued to date by RAS, or based on RAS reports.

Does ERA have an expert panel on rail accidents? If so, what is the procedure for reporting a rail accident in a Member State?

What is the demarcation of competences between DG MOVE and ERA and how binding are the Commission, but also the respective Member States, on the findings and recommendations issued by ERA?

Considering Greece’s lack of compliance with the requirements of EU legislation on safety (Directive 2016/798) and interoperability (Directive 2016/797) of railways, what actions has ERA taken in collaboration with DG MOVE , to ensure the safety of the Greek railways?

What are the national measures taken by Greece to remedy the violations of Union law?”