Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned – six days after the high‑speed train collision that claimed at least 69 lives and injured dozens.
He disclosed his decision in Parliament, where he had presented the details of Wednesday’s crash near Urda, south of Madrid.
He stated, “A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two serious accidents within a year,” also referencing a fatal crash in January in southern Spain’s Andalusia region.
The Urda incident occurred when a Renfe high‑speed train operated by the state collided with a stationary Iryo train.
Puente announced his resignation at the conclusion of a congressional session in which he outlined new rail safety measures and faced questioning from opposition members.
He said he decided immediately after the 28 October disaster, though he waited several days before making the announcement public.
Pressure on Puente had been mounting, with opposition parties and some government allies urging his departure.
Leaked audio recordings published by Spanish media shortly after the crash captured exchanges between train drivers and the control centre just minutes before the accident.
Three recordings between Madrid’s control centre and two train drivers indicate that a high‑speed train was cleared to proceed despite a stalled train about 25 km (15 mi) ahead.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged that authorities will “get to the bottom of every last detail of this tragedy.”
