Tithorea 1994 derailment
An intercity passenger train derailed in Tithorea, Greece, on 11 September 1994.[3] Five people were killed.[4] A preliminary report stated that the cause of the accident was excessive speed. The crash was referred to as one of Greece's most tragic rail disasters.[5] DerailmentThe Intercity 42 “Trikoupis”[6] operating the Athens–Volos route, was forced by OSE station staff at Tithorea to divert onto a passing track due to a disabled train (No. 602) in front obstructing the main line. The train entered the approaches at 140 km/h (87 mph), far exceeding the 40 km/h (25 mph) mandated slow-speed limit and even above the main-line limit of 120 km/h (75 mph) Five people were killed, and 10 more were injured including a 4-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl[7] when one carriage of the train derailed at a turn, derailing the whole train. One carriage caught fire, though it did not spread. InvestigationThe official report blamed the driver for ignoring a warning signal before Tithorea and not adhering to the slowdown directive; the driver stated he was informed too late about the route change, saying: “I was entering Tithorea at 140 km/h. Fifty meters before reaching the switch, I saw the changed track. What could I do?”[8] It was also revealed, by Lamia journalist Giorgos Palamiotis, who investigated the issue, the accident had another explanation, that OSE had given a small bonus of around 18 drachmas[9] to drivers for each minute saved during their journey, a possible incentive that contributed to excessive speed. Both the driver, G. Grammatikis, and the train's supervisor, A. Mitrolios, were held responsible. Grammatikis was sentenced to 59 months in jail; Mitrolios received a sentence of 33 months and 15 days.[10] See alsoReferences
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