Hellenic Train seeks €40m in compensation from Greek state

Hellenic Train, a private company that operates passenger and freight trains across Greece, is demanding 40 million euros in compensation from the Greek state for disruptions to services following the Tempi tragedy and damage to the rail network caused by Storm Daniel.

Negotiations are currently underway between the ministry and HT over the debt, but have not yet been successful. Hellenic Train is expected to demand compensation from the Greek state, which could amount to up to 40 million euros, after its financial results were affected by the prolonged suspension of rail traffic following the tragedy Tempiand, mainly, after the destruction of the network by cyclones Daniel And Elias. The newspaper reports this. ethnos.gr .

In total, the company recorded losses in 2023, which was undoubtedly the worst year for Greek Railways due to the Tempi tragedy that left behind 57 victims and 181 injured, exceeding 65 million eurosas seen in financial results announced on Wednesday.

“In 2023, the company recorded significant losses from the operation of the contract, mainly due to reasons related to the decisions to reduce transport operations that followed the accident in Tempi, as well as to the catastrophic damage caused to the railway infrastructure of central Greece by extreme weather events in September 2023. The company intends to claim the compensation to which it is entitled under the contract for these significant losses.”– the financial statements say.

According to information received ethnos.grthe amount that HT will demand in compensation will be around 40 million euros, since part of the 65 million losses comes from the freight sector, which, although completely destroyed, is not covered by the contract signed by the company with the Greek state.

During this period, negotiations are underway between the ministry and HT on the debt issue, which, however, have not yet been successful. Information from the camp of the Italian owners states that no legal action has been taken so far, since it is desirable to find a solution outside the courtrooms, and that there is relative tolerance, given that the parent company is also a state, but this does not mean that this tolerance is inexhaustible.

Finally, as the results report states, debts from previous years have also accumulated, as the annual price of 50 million euros has not been paid by the state since 2022. At the same time, 4 million in compensation for the pandemic period have not been paid, as well as amounts for discounted tickets and electricity costs, which together amount to around 16 million euros for 2022 alone.

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