Spain's Transport Minister Resigns After Two Deadly Rail Crashes

Sixty-nine people died in a train collision near Urda, central Spain, on October 28. The disaster prompted Transport Minister Oscar Puente to announce his resignation, ending a tenure marked by two fatal accidents in under twelve months.

Puente stated he made the decision immediately after the crash. He explained that he stayed in his role temporarily to manage the aftermath and implement safety measures. He did not specify a date for his departure. The minister described the move as a matter of political dignity and empathy for the victims.

In a written statement, Puente argued that a transport minister could not remain in office after two incidents of this severity, regardless of direct responsibility. He emphasized consistency in his reasoning for stepping down.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised Puente on the social media platform X. Sanchez described the minister's actions as honorable, noting that Puente offered solutions before stepping aside out of respect for the victims. Sanchez framed the resignation as an act of political integrity.

The October accident occurred when a Renfe train was allowed to proceed by the Madrid control center while another train remained stationary on the tracks. A signaling failure had initially stopped several trains automatically. Rail unions demanded Puente's immediate dismissal following the incident. Lawmakers also criticized the minister for blaming protocol errors by control operators.

This was the second major incident on the Madrid to Seville line this year. In January, a derailment caused a train to strike another moving in the opposite direction, killing 46 people. Separately, three railcars collided with a locomotive in Martorell, near Barcelona, on Tuesday afternoon, injuring a train driver.

Spain's railway unions have scheduled a strike for November 17 to address safety concerns on the network.