Greek rail unions' 24-hour strike halts trains and suburban rail on 30 October

The strike and its scope

The Panhellenic Railway Federation (POS) has called a 24-hour strike for Friday, 30 October, which is set to halt trains and the suburban rail service (Proastiakos). Hellenic Train's announcement lists services that will not run, including Athens to Thessaloniki, Athens to Lianokladi, Piraeus to Kiato, Athens to Chalkida, Piraeus to the airport, Thessaloniki to Larissa and Thessaloniki to Serres. Cancellations also reach other regional lines, among them Alexandroupoli to Ormenio and Kiato to Aigio, and more were expected during the day.

The court ruling and the company's position

The Piraeus Single-Member Court of First Instance declared an earlier strike by PEPE unlawful after an appeal by Hellenic Train, citing failure to follow the required procedures for security staffing and for the strike's demands. Hellenic Train argues that the ruling expressly prohibits any future strike with the same subject, and that POS's new call is an attempt to circumvent it. The company says such actions disrupt rail services and cause serious inconvenience to passengers, and it reserves the right to take any lawful step to protect its interests.

“The choice to call the strike again, despite the earlier court ruling, shows that passengers' inconvenience is treated as an acceptable consequence of their union tactics.”

What the drivers demand

PEPE, which represents the locomotive drivers, says its demands concern the safe operation of the railway, including rolling stock and facilities, staff shortages, the training and supervision of drivers, and the application of work rules. The union links 20 resignations of new drivers to working conditions. It says rail incidents are rising even though the network runs at about 60% of its normal activity because safety system installation works are under way. The union accuses Hellenic Train of avoiding substantive dialogue for 17 months and says the company responds with out-of-court letters, disciplinary penalties and court appeals.

The federation's position

POS, which called the strike in support of PEPE, points to serious understaffing across the sector, shortages in critical specialities, and growing maintenance and modernisation needs. The federation has also asked for a meeting with the ministry. The sources describe the strike as scheduled for Friday, 30 October, and do not yet report its effect on services or any response from the ministry.