Athens, January 16, 2026 – The Europe Today: Greece has ordered Hellenic Train, the Italian-owned national rail operator, to invest €420 million in new rolling stock and maintenance infrastructure as part of efforts to improve railway safety standards, nearly three years after the country’s deadliest rail disaster.
The measures are included in amendments to a 2017 state contract that were approved by parliament on Thursday, according to the Transport Ministry. For the first time, the revised contract introduces a break clause allowing the state to terminate the agreement if new trains are not delivered and fully operational by 2027, media reported.
The decision follows the February 2023 collision near the city of Larissa between a passenger train and a freight train, which claimed 57 lives, most of them students, and exposed serious safety deficiencies across Greece’s rail network.
Under the investment plan, €308 million will be allocated to the purchase of new electric trains from French manufacturer Alstom. The trains will be equipped with advanced remote communication and braking systems. An additional €100 million will be directed toward upgrading maintenance facilities and implementing digital systems to enhance operational safety.
A judicial investigation into the Larissa disaster is ongoing, with the trial expected to begin in March. Hellenic Train has stated that it is fully cooperating with the authorities in the investigation.
