Madrid, Nov 4:
Spain’s Transport Minister Oscar Puente has resigned following a train collision that killed 69 people, taking responsibility amid mounting criticism over railway safety and the government’s handling of the disaster. Puente also withdrew from the November 29 general election, saying he could not continue in office after two major railway accidents in less than a year.
Making the announcement before Parliament on Tuesday, Puente said the scale of the two disasters made it difficult for a transport minister to remain in office, regardless of whether he was directly responsible. He referred to the latest collision near Urda, south of Madrid, and a separate accident in the Andalusia region in January that claimed 46 lives.
The latest tragedy occurred on October 28 when a train operated by state-owned Renfe crashed into a stationary train belonging to private operator Iryo. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the collision, including the failure of an automatic safety system that had halted services along a 63-km stretch of track. Despite the disruption, a control centre authorised the Renfe train to resume its journey, leading to the fatal collision.
The accident has intensified questions over maintenance standards, railway operations and the safety of Spain’s high-speed rail network. Opposition parties and railway unions have criticised the government, particularly over the minister’s remarks concerning the role of a control centre operator. The train drivers’ union Semaf has also called strikes for November 10 and 12, citing deteriorating working conditions and concerns over the use of compromised safety systems.
Before announcing his resignation, Puente outlined measures to prevent similar incidents, including a new software system designed to identify irregularities in train movements and issue automatic warnings to control centres. The proposed system will incorporate artificial intelligence to reduce the possibility of human error. He also proposed a mandatory second-operator approval for decisions taken when automatic safety systems are unavailable. A compensation package of ā¬30 million has been announced for the families of those killed and injured.
Puente’s departure comes at a difficult moment for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose government is facing increased scrutiny ahead of the November 29 general election. The two railway disasters have become a major issue in the campaign, raising questions about infrastructure investment, maintenance and accountability. Critics have also argued that the expansion of passenger services following the liberalisation of Spain’s railway network in 2021 has not been matched by adequate investment in maintenance and safety.