Families were quoted by the state-run China Daily as saying government officials were trying to hurry them into accepting compensation offers, but many relatives were refusing, saying it was too early to discuss such payments.
"We don't need money. We demand the truth," the paper quoted one family member, Wang Hui, as saying.
Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday ordered an "open and transparent" investigation into the Saturday night crash near the city of Wenzhou in eastern China, saying the results should quickly be made public.
That followed a public outcry, with internet users, victims' families and state media increasingly critical of the way authorities handled the accident and its aftermath, accusing them of "arrogance" amid suspicions of a cover-up.
Families were entitled to 500 000 yuan ($77 600) per death, the newspaper said in its report from Wenzhou.
Lack of official transparency
But the paper said a continuing lack of official transparency over who or what was to blame for the accident was stoking resentment.
"They don't talk about the accident and the cause. They just focus on the money as if we came here just for money. What can be more heartbreaking?" it quoted the unnamed brother of one dead passenger as saying.
State-run news agency Xinhua said on Thursday that a rail official has blamed "design flaws" in signalling equipment for the crash in which at least 39 people were killed.
However, no official investigation results have yet been released.
Some families accused authorities of offering bonuses to families who agree to promptly cremate the remains of their loved ones "to prevent families making more trouble", the China Daily said, adding that officials denied that account.
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