Already some seem to be taking their measures fearing possible responsibilities. In this direction for a long time the managing director of Hellenic Train Mr. Maurizio Caporto, who, despite being a guy, remains in his position, he is said to have “waved a scarf” and as it is said, he signs all decisions using technology, specifically with an electronic signature. Rumor has it that he is reportedly fearing a possible ban from the country.
Hellenic Train is now represented in Greece by Mr. Roberto Rinaudo, Country Manager of the Italian company. In fact, at last Monday’s summit meeting at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure for the Greek railway, under the responsible minister, Mr. Christos Staikouras, it is heard that the minister in charge expressed his annoyance. It is noted that in the event that persons are found responsible as a result of the investigation, then the prescribed sanctions will be assigned appropriately, a fact that has been requested by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport in writing, with a letter to the involved bodies.
According to secure information of “ET” of Sunday, Mr. Rinaudo will assume the duties of CEO in the near future, with the validation of Hellenic Train’s financial statements for 2023. It is noted that Mr. Roberto Rinaudo has been the CEO of Trenitalia France until today.
Conflict
At the same time, the controversy that has erupted in the bowels of Hellenic Train and especially in the field of train drivers, where two camps have been formed: those who are close to the president of the Union of Train Drivers OSE, Mr. Kostas Genidounias and the rest. The development has reportedly caused leaks of reports of malfunctions and near misses on Hellenic Train routes.
As mentioned above, in the context of strengthening the safety of rail travel, the political leadership of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure asked the two companies, OSE and Hellenic Train, to commit to their continuous and close cooperation in all issues related to the railway safety and concern the obligation to strictly observe the General Traffic Regulation, throughout the Greek railway network. The Railway Regulatory Authority is moving in the same direction.
This implies, on the part of Hellenic Train, the acceleration of the investigation of the incidents related to the non-implementation of the regulation. In addition, the political leadership is asked for the will from the Italian side to cooperate, together with the OSE, to further improve the efficiency of human resources in issues related to security.
In particular, actions related to: reinforcement of security staff, re-evaluation of relevant internal regulations, staff re-training and establishment by the OSE of a special team to monitor radio communications between traffic staff and train drivers are being launched.
At the same time, the need for effective supervision of the implementation of the measures that have already been taken, and are planned to be taken, by RAS was highlighted.
UPGRADE AND UPGRADE
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is already implementing a plan for the restructuring and overall upgrading of the Greek railway. Particularly:
- In September 2023, contract 717 for the relegation of Signaling-Remote Control to the PATHE/P axis was completed.
- Specifically, the remaining section from Oinoi to Tithorea, the upgraded Traffic Control Center in the SKA-Tithorea section and the new Traffic Control Center in Larissa were completed, within the schedule set by the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
- The section from Domokos to Larissa, on which the systems were installed and operating, was destroyed by natural disasters (Daniel storm) in September 2023. The total cost of permanent rehabilitation is estimated at approximately 450 million euros and concerns section Domokos-Larissa, of the main axis Athens-Thessaloniki, as well as on the vertical axes Larisa-Volos and Paleofarsalo-Kalambaka.
- Also, in December 2023, the contract for the installation of an automatic train protection system (ETCS – Level 1) on the line was terminated. Specifically, the installation was carried out within the schedule set by the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, in the sections SKA-Tithorea, Domokos-Thessaloniki-Promahonas and Oinoi-Chalkida.
Which projects were completed?
Within the second half of 2023, the following projects were terminated:
- The construction of bridges on the French river.
- The installation of the “OSMOS” system, i.e. instrumental monitoring on 14 large railway bridges in the Tithorea-Domokos section, with real-time data processing.
- The operation of the new traction substation in Perivoli Domokos.
- The installation of electrification on the new variant of the line in the Polykastro-Idomeni section.
- The completion of flood protection projects along the railway projects in Peloponnese and Central Greece.
- Measures were taken to restore equipment in the OSE network and maturation actions were implemented for the assignment of new projects.
These include:
- The restoration of lighting, fire control and pedometer control of the GSM-R signal in all the tunnels of the railway axis Corinth-Athens-Thessaloniki-Strymonas-Promahonas.
- The control of the operation of the alarm and closed-circuit camera (CCTV) systems of the Platamonas and Tempo tunnels, as well as the restoration of VHF radio communication.
- The creation and operation of the Operation Control Centers (OCCs) of the railway network in Corinth, SKA, Lianokladi, while the one in Larissa is under completion.
- The drawing up of tender documents for the GSM-R radio coverage project and in the remaining sections of the main PATHE/P railway axis, taking into account all the parameters for the interconnection of the new system with the one already installed in sections of the same axis.
- A series of infrastructure maintenance contracts are in the implementation or commissioning phase. These concern the infrastructure, the systems, as well as the guarding of the facilities (especially with the use of Drones).
300 cameras
It is also highlighted that, in December 2023, 300 cameras were installed to continuously monitor the trains. The placement took place in the Platamonas, Tempos, Othrios and Kallidromos tunnels, as well as in the twin tunnels of Aghii Anargyro. The images are recorded in real time at the Tunnel Control Centers. Infrared heat detection cameras were also installed inside the tunnels, as well as the trains running through the tunnels.
At the same time, actions continue to secure co-financing of the projects from European Union funds.
Analytically :
A) The financing for the project “Completion of the new double railway line in the Rododafni-Rio section”, with a total budget of 146.5 million euros, was approved by the European Commission in August 2023.
- Completion of the new electrically driven double railway line in the Tithorea-Domokos section.
- Construction of the infrastructure of the new double railway line in the Rododafni-Psathopyrgos section.
- In January 2024, a request for funding from the Connecting Europe 2 program (CEF 2, 2021-2027) was submitted.
» The request concerns the following projects:
- Upgrading of an existing monastery with the possibility of doubling and installation of signalling-remote control-ETCS & electrification of the line in the Alexandroupoli-Ormenio section.
- Installation of a new signaling system and ETCS on the Ano Liosia-Kiato section (damaged by vandalism).
- Renovation and upgrading of the Acharnes-Oinoi section of the central railway axis.
- Upgrading the infrastructure and infrastructure of the Thessaloniki-Promahona line.
- Completion of the new Kiato-Patra double line in the section Rio-Neos Limenas Patras.
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