A disagreement has emerged between the Greek government and local authorities in Kalavryta over the reopening of the famous Diakopto–Kalavryta rack railway, a landmark tourist attraction in the Peloponnese.
Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis has asked the Municipality of Kalavryta to provide formal confirmation that conditions along the Vouraikos Gorge route are safe for train operations during the summer period. The railway has remained largely closed due to concerns about rockfalls and landslides affecting sections of the line.
“The rack railway will not reopen through public statements or demonstrations,” Kyranakis said.
Local officials have argued that the railway has operated for more than a century without any accident caused by falling rocks and maintain that geological risks are considerably lower during the summer months. However, railway authorities say that verbal assurances are insufficient and that a written technical assessment is required before services can resume.
Infrastructure managers have already completed maintenance work, vegetation removal and track cleaning in key areas, while further inspections are ongoing. Authorities continue to evaluate safety conditions before making a final decision on reopening.
The prolonged suspension has frustrated businesses in Kalavryta, which rely heavily on tourism generated by the scenic railway. Many local residents and stakeholders believe the closure is harming the regional economy and are pushing for services to restart as soon as possible.
The debate comes at a time when railway safety remains under intense scrutiny across Greece following the 2023 Tempi rail disaster.
Source: Tovima
