Mass demonstrations are being prepared across Greece on the third anniversary of the Tempi rail disaster. Rallies are scheduled for 28 February 2026 in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities nationwide, marking three years since the collision that claimed dozens of lives and sparked widespread anger over rail safety and political accountability.
The rallies are expected to draw large crowds, echoing previous mass mobilisations that followed the crash. In Athens, demonstrators are set to gather at Syntagma Square at 12 noon, while in Thessaloniki, the rally will take place at the Venizelos statue, also at midday.
The anniversary comes less than a month before the main trial is due to begin on 23 March 2026, a development closely watched as questions of responsibility move into the courtroom. In a statement, the Association of Relatives of Tempi Victims argued that "Tempi was not a bad moment. It was the expression of an inhumane policy that, in the name of profit, does not even count human life, that generates and covers up crimes."
Judicial proceedings have become a primary focus, as the Supreme Court of Greece, Areios Pagos, has confirmed that the criminal trial for the Tempi crash will be held in Larisa, dismissing requests from some victim families to move the trial to Athens or Thessaloniki for logistical reasons. A total of 36 defendants face charges related to the catastrophe.
Meanwhile, fresh safety revelations have emerged from official probes, as investigators found that non-fire-resistant seats on the passenger train did not meet mandated fire safety standards, a factor believed to have exacerbated the post-collision inferno and fed into broader debates over regulatory oversight and operator liability ahead of the trial.
Controversy has also persisted over evidence handling. Prominent relatives of victims have publicly decried the disappearance of key surveillance footage from the crash site, alleging that this missing material could be pivotal for understanding core aspects of the incident.
