Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia joined a memorial service held in tribute to the 69 victims who perished in a train collision on the Madrid-Seville line, near Urda, approximately 40 miles from Toledo. This tragic incident occurred two weeks ago when one high-speed train collided with another that was stationary, marking the worst rail disaster in Spain since 2013. The event left 28 individuals still receiving treatment in hospitals. Archbishop Cerro Chaves addressed those present, expressing the shared pain felt by families, towns, and society at large following this devastating accident.
Family members of the victims, including Ana Benítez, sister of David Benítez who was among the deceased, read passages during the service. Notable attendees included senior politicians such as the leader of the opposition People's Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Castilla-La Mancha region president Emiliano García-Page, and Transport and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo. Cuerpo assumed his position following the resignation of Óscar Puente last week, who had been under mounting pressure due to this accident, Spain's second major rail tragedy this year after 46 people lost their lives in a January collision on the same high-speed line.
Local residents from Adamuz in Andalusia and Urda were among those present at the memorial service. The investigation into the recent accident is ongoing, with Puente suggesting human error combined with a glitch in the safety system as potential causes. The tragedy occurred just a month before the 29 November general election, which could potentially impact Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's re-election bid. The ceremony took place on the same day as a nationwide train driver strike, demanding greater safety on the rail network. Additionally, rail services were expected to be affected across the country on Wednesday due to a general strike led by housing activists seeking urgent measures to control rental costs.