Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia joined a memorial service in remembrance of the 69 victims who perished in a train collision near Toledo two weeks ago. The tragic incident took place on the Madrid-Seville line, where one high-speed train collided with another that was stationary, resulting in the worst rail disaster since 2013. Twenty-eight survivors are still receiving medical treatment.
The memorial service was held at a cathedral and featured readings from relatives of the deceased, including Ana Benítez, sister to one of the victims, David Benítez. Archbishop Cerro Chaves addressed those in attendance, expressing sympathy for the pain the accident has caused to families, towns, and society as a whole. Senior politicians such as Alberto Núñez Feijóo from the opposition People's Party, Emiliano García-Page from the Castilla-La Mancha region, and Transport and Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo were also present.
The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, with initial suggestions pointing towards a combination of human error and a malfunction in the safety system. The tragedy comes a month before the general election on 29 November, which may impact Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's re-election attempts. Additionally, it occurred on the same day as a nationwide strike by train drivers demanding increased rail network safety. Another general strike, led by housing activists advocating for rental cost control measures, is expected to affect rail services across the country on Wednesday.