Throughout Greece, Friday 28th February 2025 marked the two year anniversary since the tragic Tempe train disaster, which killed 57 train passengers and crew in a horrific head-on collision.  The whole country came to a standstill as unions, citizens and organisations held a 24-hour nationwide strike and mass demonstrations, demanding justice for the 57 victims and improved public transport safety.  The anniversary saw the largest mobilisation since the tragedy with broad participation from trade unions, including the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Civil Servants' Confederation (ADEDY), professional associations and the general public, calling for accountability and safer public transport, as little has been achieved in impoving public safety since the Tempe tragedy two years ago.

The Panhellenic Maritime Federation (PNO), railway workers, air traffic controllers, taxi drivers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, artists, students and shop owners have also announced their participation in the 24-hour national strike.  Many businesses, supermarkets and nightclubs will remain closed, whilst cultural institution, including theatres, have expressed their solidarity with the movement.

Public transport services across the country were heavily affected.  Metro, tram and electric railway services operated only between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm to facilitate demonstrators, whilst buses, trolleybuses and suburban trains were all cancelled for the day.  Hellenic Train and TrainOSE suspended all routes, including suburban railway services.  Air traffic controllers were on strike from midnight to midnight, leading to cancellation of all flights.  All ferries remained docked for the day as the Panhellenic Seamen's Fedieration joined the 24-hour strike.  There were no Hellenic Seaways sailing services between Piraeus and Poros, Hydra, Ermioni, Porto Heli or Spetses today.

Mass demonstrations were held throughout Greece, Europe, America and Australia, with over 420,000 people gathered in Athens Syntagma Square alone.  The focus was on the Greek Parliament building, where relations of the victims made heartfelt speeches. 

A monument titled 'The Tree of Memory', dedicated to the victims of the Tempe railway disaster, was unveiled in Thessaloniki, which was the destination of the doomed passenger train from Athens.  The names of all the 57 victims are intricately incorporated into the artwork as birds fallen from the branches.  A very similar monument, 'The Tree of Souls', has been installed in Athens, symbolically linking the two cities in rememberance.

As Greece marked two years since the Tempe tragedy, the collective call for justice, accounability and improved safety standards continued to resonate across the nation.  The mobilisation served as both a tribute to the victims and a statement of resilience from Greek society ensuring the memory of the tragedy does not fade and systemic failures are addressed to prevent future disasters.

Further fresh demonstrations were held in the following weeks, in major cities and towns throughout Greece.  Sadly, some ended with violent scenes, as did the original Athens demonstration, between anarchists and the police, resulting in damage and arrests.