Greek regulator says station master involved in train crash had 'inadequate' training

The regulator statement also said that based on data collected by the regulator so far, there was "strong evidence" that that the training offered to railway staff performing key duties, such as station masters, has been "deficient and hence inadequate." The Greek rail infrastructure agency OSE, which oversees the training programme, said that it will respond to the regulator's remarks in full detail and with documentation.

Greece's rail regulator has "strong evidence" that a station master involved in a deadly train crash last month had not taken "appropriate and comprehensive" training to perform his duties, it said on Friday, detailing its probe into the country's deadliest rail crash on record. Police detained four railway workers, including the station master on duty after the magistrate's office charged them for disrupting public transport leading to deaths following the head-on collision of a passenger and a freight train on Feb. 28, which killed 57 people in central Greece.

Commenting on the training programme taken by the duty station master along with others, the regulator said it did not find evidence that "the appropriate and comprehensive theoretical and on-the-job training" was given, in line with the requirements set. The regulator statement also said that based on data collected by the regulator so far, there was "strong evidence" that that the training offered to railway staff performing key duties, such as station masters, has been "deficient and hence inadequate."

The Greek rail infrastructure agency OSE, which oversees the training programme, said that it will respond to the regulator's remarks in full detail and with documentation. The regulator ordered the OSE to not assign the station masters who took that specific training programme with duties key to public safety.

The train disaster has sparked public outrage and mass protests over deficient train safety. Railway workers blamed years of neglect, under-investment and understaffing which lead to a creaking rail infrastructure. Rail experts have also pointed to an incomplete traffic control and signaling system which could have averted the accident.

The government has mainly blamed human error but has acknowledged some of the criticism. In a separate statement on Friday, the Greek transport ministry said it was setting up a coordination center for rail safety, with the participation of railway operators, along with police, fire brigade and emergency services' officials.

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