Greeks rally to mark anniversary of deadly 2023 train crash ahead of trial

Tens of thousands of Greeks rallied in Athens and other cities on Saturday to mark the anniversary of a 2023 train crash, the country's deadliest rail disaster in history, demanding justice ahead of a criminal trial set to begin next month. The demonstrations, which drew massive crowds across the nation, came exactly one year after the catastrophic collision between a passenger and freight train near the city of Larissa, which killed 59 people and injured dozens more. Protesters carried banners reading 'Justice for the 59' and chanted slogans against what they called systemic negligence in Greece's rail system, which has been plagued by underfunding and safety concerns for years. The anniversary rallies served as both a memorial for the victims and a powerful call for accountability as the country prepares to try 12 individuals, including railway officials and executives, on charges of negligent homicide and bodily harm. The trial, scheduled to begin in early April, is expected to be one of the most significant legal proceedings in modern Greek history, potentially exposing deep-rooted issues in the country's transportation infrastructure management.