Plans to upgrade safety systems at 100 railway level crossings in Greece remain on hold after a €31 million ($36 million) tender was canceled without a contractor being selected.
The tender, launched by state-owned railway infrastructure company Hellenic Railways, ended after an evaluation committee found that neither of the two participating bidders had submitted all the required documentation. Both offers were filed before the deadline, but neither met the tender’s requirements for participation and technical documentation.
The company’s board approved the evaluation report on August 3, 2026, and referred the matter to its Infrastructure Management Directorate to consider whether to repeat the tender or withdraw the relevant commitment of funds.
The decision leaves unresolved when the project will proceed and under what conditions. The upgrade is intended to replace existing installations with 100 new Automatic Level Crossing Protection Systems, known by their Greek acronym ASID, built to SIL4 safety specifications.
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Two bids submitted, but no contractor selected
The electronic tender, registered under number 377483 in Greece’s public procurement system, attracted two bidders: FALCIONI ROBERTO Single-Member Private Company and TRITON ACT Technical Electromechanical Company.
Following extensions, the deadline for submitting offers was set for July 9, 2026, with electronic bids opened on July 14.
According to the evaluation committee’s report, both companies submitted their offers on time. However, an examination of their participation documents and technical files found that neither had provided the documentation required under Articles 2.4.3.1 and 2.4.3.2 of the tender notice.
The published excerpt does not specify which documents were missing from each bid. It therefore does not establish the extent of the deficiencies or whether they concerned particular technical requirements.
The board of Hellenic Railways approved Evaluation Report 3A through Decision 7036 and referred the issue to the Infrastructure Management Directorate for further consideration.
Project also covers ETCS integration
The project goes beyond replacing equipment at the crossings. It includes dismantling the old installations and supplying, installing and commissioning the 100 new safety systems.
The contract also provides for adapting and connecting the new systems to the existing European Train Control System (ETCS) infrastructure on three railway sections:
- Thessaloniki–Idomeni
- Domokos–Platy
- Thessaloniki–Strymonas–Promachonas
The work also includes the required commissioning procedures and certification by a notified body, known as a NoBo.
The canceled tender therefore delays not only the planned equipment replacement but also the integration of the new systems with the existing train-control infrastructure.
The project was outlined in the official publication of tender notice 25015/2026.
Questions over the next steps and existing equipment
The immediate question is whether and when the tender will be relaunched. The procurement process had already undergone amendments to its terms and extensions to the submission deadline, according to the company’s official notice.
It remains to be clarified whether further changes will be needed to attract a qualifying bid and allow the process to result in a contractor being appointed.
Questions also remain about the current condition of the 100 crossings. These include which safety systems are operating, what maintenance needs have been identified and what measures are in place until the planned replacements are installed.
The cancellation of the tender does not, by itself, establish that the existing installations are out of service or unsafe. It does, however, leave the status of the equipment and the measures being taken to maintain its operation as issues requiring clarification.
Timeline for railway safety upgrades remains uncertain
The project concerns safety at intersections between roads and railway lines, where accidents occur frequently.
The next steps will determine when the procurement process can resume, whether funding remains secured and what schedule will be set for installing and commissioning the new systems.
Until those questions are resolved, the planned upgrade of the 100 level crossings remains pending.