Relatives of the 69 people killed in a high-speed rail collision in Spain last month attended a state funeral Tuesday
TOLEDO, Spain -- Relatives of the 69 people killed in a high-speed rail collision in Spain last month attended a state funeral on Tuesday with Spain's royals, almost two weeks after the crash.
The ceremony took place in the towering 13th-century Toledo Cathedral in central Spain.
The collision happened on Oct. 28 when a high-speed train slammed into another that was stationary on the Madrid-Seville line near Urda, around 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of the capital.
It was the second deadly collision this year involving Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network, shattering Spaniards' trust in the transit system that is regarded as one of the country's crowning achievements.
Under growing pressure, Transport Minister Óscar Puente stepped down last week. His resignation was followed by that of Luis Pedro Marco, who was head of Spain's railway infrastructure operator.
Spain will hold a general election on Nov. 29, in which progressive Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is seeking reelection.
Sánchez did not attend Tuesday's funeral service.
A 16th-century sculpture of Christ was moved from the town of Urda to the cathedral in Toledo for the funeral service.
Residents of Urda placed 69 candles near the altar in honor of the victims.
