Spain's Transport Minister to Quit After Two Deadly Train Crashes
Oscar Puente announced his resignation following the October 28 collision that killed 69 people, citing political dignity after a second fatal accident this year.
By Sanjay Caldwell ·
Spain's transport minister, Oscar Puente, said he will leave his post after a train crash killed 69 people last month. He made the announcement on Monday, stating he made the decision in the first minutes after the October 28 incident near the town of Urda in central Spain.
Puente did not provide a specific date for his departure. He explained that he stayed in the role initially to manage the immediate consequences and work to prevent similar accidents. However, he noted that a transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two accidents of this severity within a year, regardless of whether he bears direct responsibility.
The minister described his decision as a matter of political dignity, consistency, and empathy toward the victims. He highlighted that the two crashes were different in nature but both severe.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez supported the decision on X. Sanchez wrote that Puente stood up, offered solutions, and then stepped aside of his own accord. The prime minister called the move an act of respect for the victims and stated that politicians like Puente bring honor to the country.
The October 28 collision occurred after a signalling system failure automatically stopped several trains. The central control centre in Madrid took over operations and allowed a train operated by state-owned Renfe to proceed. Another stationary train was on the tracks ahead when the collision happened.
This was the second major incident on the Madrid-Seville line in 2026. In January, 46 people died when a train derailed and struck another train traveling in the opposite direction. Railway unions demanded Puente's immediate dismissal after the latest crash. They also announced a strike for November 17 over railway safety.
Separately, three railcars collided with a locomotive in Martorell, near Barcelona, on Tuesday afternoon. The accident injured a train driver. Lawmakers have criticized Puente for previously attributing blame to a break in protocol by control centre operators.
