Greek PM ‘sorry’ over fatal train crash as station master detained pending trial

Rail employee, who was in post for only four days before the accident, addressed court for seven hours over disaster in which 57 people died

Greece's prime minister has apologised for the worst rail accident in the country's history as a station master facing multiple charges including involuntary manslaughter was remanded in custody after giving testimony in court.

Amid mounting protests prompted by the disaster, magistrates unanimously agreed that the 59-year-old should be detained pending trial. The employee, described by the Greek media as being in post for only four days before Tuesday's tragedy, has not been named publicly. He appeared in court in Larissa, the city where the doomed locomotive last stopped before ramming, head-on and at high speed, into a freight train using the same track.