It has sparked angry protests alleging government negligence in overseeing the rail network.
Athens metro employees also walked off the job on Thursday for a strike that will last until midnight (2200 GMT), saying the system suffered from “similar problems” to those of the overland rail network.
“For years our union has complained of massive shortages of equipment and replacement parts, and a huge shortage of staff… which forces workers to do long and exhausting days,” it said.
In 2017, Greek state rail operator Trainose was acquired by the Italian public company Ferrovie Dello Stato Italiane (FS) and renamed Hellenic Train — part of a sweeping privatisation programme mandated by Greece’s creditors during the country’s decade-long debt crisis.