Greek transit system thwarted by strikes, protests on deadly train wreck's anniversary

Labor strikes in Greece brought much of the Balkan nation's transit infrastructure to a halt Wednesday, a year after a train crash killed a record 57 people.

Wednesday’s strike disrupted public transport in the capital, Athens, and left ferries tied up in ports as unions pressed demands to further dismantle wage controls imposed during Greece's near decade-long financial crisis. Flights were unaffected after a court ruled that participation in the walk-out by air traffic controllers was illegal. Farmers and university students have also been staging anti-government protests in recent weeks.

At the scene of the rail crash in Tempi, central Greece, relatives of the victims gathered for a memorial service as churches across the country tolled their bells 57 times Wednesday morning to honor the dead.