- This week’s tragic train crash near the city of Larissa (Greece) involving a passenger train (350 people, mostly students) and freight train has resulted in 57 confirmed deaths, sparking widespread outrage and blame.
- Many Greek politicians and railway workers blame the crash on years of railroad maintenance neglect.
- The neglect allegedly derives from austerity measures imposed during the Greek debt crisis (2010) in which EU and IMF bailouts forced the government to cut spending.
- Public anger has sparked railway worker strikes and riots.
