Residents of Urda placed 69 candles near the altar, one for each victim, and a 16th-century sculpture of Christ was brought from the town for the ceremony. The first reading was delivered by Ana Benítez, the sister of David Benítez, a 38-year-old father-of-two who died. The Archbishop of Toledo, Cerro Chaves, said the accident had left “a pain that is difficult to accept.”

Senior politicians attended the service, including opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, regional president Emiliano García-Page, and Transport and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, who took over from the recently resigned Óscar Puente. Puente had resigned under pressure following the crash, which was the second major rail disaster on the same line this year. Luis Pedro Marco, head of Spain’s railway infrastructure operator, also resigned.

The accident occurred near Urda, about 40 miles from Toledo, and was the worst rail disaster in Spain since 2013. Twenty-eight people remain in hospital. The crash has led to a loss of public confidence in the rail system, which is considered one of Spain’s key achievements. European prosecutors have also opened an investigation into possible fraud in the use of EU funds for safety upgrades on the same line.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez did not attend the funeral, citing his refusal to attend religious ceremonies. This decision drew criticism from political opponents. The tragedy has intensified pressure on Sánchez, who is seeking re-election on 29 November. The accident is seen as likely to hurt his chances of securing another term.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing. Transport Minister Puente suggested that human error combined with a glitch in the safety system may have been the cause. The ceremony took place on the same day as a nationwide strike by train drivers, who are demanding greater safety on the rail network. A general strike on Wednesday is expected to further disrupt public services and businesses.