Families of those killed in the Toledo rail disaster will receive around €72,000 per victim under a €30million support package approved by Spain’s government.
Transport Minister Oscar Puente announced the measures following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, almost a week after the October 28 collision near Urda that killed 69 people.
The package includes direct financial assistance supplementing compulsory passenger insurance payouts, alongside a mechanism to advance part of the compensation payable under civil liability insurance.
Puente said the payments would be non-repayable, exempt from personal income tax and compatible with other assistance.
Payments for injured passengers range from approximately €2,400 to €84,000, depending on the severity of their injuries.
The measures will take effect once published in Spain’s Official State Gazette, the BOE.
Government spokeswoman Elma Saiz said the aim extended beyond financial support.
‘Beyond ensuring assistance, we want those affected to feel accompanied by the government,’ she said.
Specialist support offices will be established through central government delegations and subdelegations to help victims and relatives apply for assistance and advance compensation payments.
The package follows a similar model to the €20million programme introduced after the Adamuz and Gelida rail disasters.
Workers injured in the Urda crash will also receive enhanced Social Security protection.
Sick leave resulting from the collision will exceptionally be treated as a workplace accident for benefit purposes, allowing payments from the first day of leave and at a higher rate than ordinarily applies to non-work-related illness or injury.
Permanent disability and bereavement benefits linked to the disaster will also be calculated under workplace accident rules wherever this is more favourable to recipients.
Eligible beneficiaries under the state’s Clases Pasivas pension scheme could receive enhanced pensions through its extraordinary pension provisions.
Separately, ministers approved legislation allowing restrictions on price increases for alternative transport to Andalucia.
Puente said the government had seen some fares multiply by as much as eight following the railway closure.
The new powers will allow limits on increases in bus and airline ticket prices during the disruption.
