Toledo Cathedral hosted a memorial service on 10 November for the 69 people who lost their lives in the railway accident near Urda, in the province of Toledo, on 28 October. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia joined relatives of the victims, survivors and public representatives at the ceremony, which was marked by grief, remembrance and calls for the circumstances of the disaster to be fully investigated.

The service was presided over by the Archbishop of Toledo, Francisco Cerro Chaves. Around 150 relatives and injured survivors attended, with the King and Queen spending time speaking with them after the Mass, offering condolences and words of support.

The cathedral welcomed approximately 1,500 people in total, including emergency service personnel, healthcare workers, volunteers and members of the security forces who had taken part in the initial response to the accident.

69 Candles and the Cristo de Urda

A candle was placed in memory of each of the 69 people who died. The candles were arranged alongside the Santísimo Cristo de la Vera Cruz, widely known as the Cristo de Urda, which was brought from the town to Toledo Cathedral for the occasion.

The image, which has a history of around 400 years, had never previously left Urda for a ceremony of this kind. Its presence gave the service a particular significance for the local community and the families affected by the tragedy.

Family members also took part in the religious service. Ana Benítez, whose brother David Benítez, a 38-year-old resident of Chiclana in Cádiz, died in the accident, delivered the first reading.

Archbishop Calls for Answers and Accountability

In his homily, Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves called for the causes of the accident to be established and for any corresponding responsibilities to be addressed. He also urged that justice be provided for the victims' families and that every necessary measure be taken to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.

He stressed that remembering those who lost their lives must lead to concrete action to improve safety. Addressing the families directly, he acknowledged the scale of their suffering and expressed solidarity with those whose lives had been changed by the disaster.

King and Queen Join National Representatives

The ceremony brought together representatives from across Spain's political and institutional life.

Those attending included the King and Queen, First Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Cuerpo, Defence Minister Margarita Robles, Education Minister Milagros Tolón and Health Minister Mónica García. The President of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page, was also present, alongside regional presidents, parliamentary representatives, senior judicial figures and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez did not attend the religious service.

The memorial in Toledo followed the railway disaster of 28 October, which claimed 69 lives. Beyond the formal tributes, the gathering provided an opportunity for families, survivors and those involved in the emergency response to come together in remembrance.

The Archbishop's message was clear: the loss of life must be followed by a thorough examination of what happened, accountability where appropriate and a lasting commitment to railway safety.