Nearly two weeks after a devastating high-speed rail collision, families of the 69 victims gathered alongside Spanish royals on Tuesday for a state funeral. The solemn ceremony was held within the 13th-century Toledo Cathedral in central Spain. To honor those lost, a 16th-century sculpture of Christ was transported from the town of Urda to the cathedral, while local residents of Urda placed 69 candles near the altar.
The tragedy occurred on Oct. 28 when a high-speed train collided with a stationary train on the Madrid-Seville line near Urda, located approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were in attendance, sitting near the families of the deceased. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who is currently seeking reelection in the general election scheduled for Nov. 29, did not attend the service.
The incident has significantly damaged public trust in Spain's high-speed rail network, a system previously celebrated as a national achievement that served 45 million passengers last year, including millions of tourists. In the wake of the crash, Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned last week, followed by the resignation of Luis Pedro Marco, who was the head of Spain’s railway infrastructure operator. Prime Minister Sánchez has pledged to conduct an investigation and implement improvements to restore the system's safety.
Separately, the European Union's independent prosecutor has launched an inquiry into potential fraud regarding the use of European funds intended for safety and renovation upgrades on the same high-speed line where both of this year's fatal rail collisions took place. Meanwhile, transportation in Spain faced further disruption on Tuesday due to a strike by train drivers. A general strike is planned for Wednesday, which is expected to impact public transit and reduce operations across factories, shops, and businesses nationwide.
