Óscar Puente has resigned as Spain's transport minister following a high-speed train collision near Urda that killed at least 69 people.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Spain's Transport and Sustainable Mobility Minister Óscar Puente resigned on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, following a high-speed train collision that killed at least 69 people. Puente announced his decision during an appearance before lawmakers at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid.
On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, a state-operated Renfe high-speed train collided with a stationary train operated by the private company Iryo near the village of Urda, approximately 130 kilometers south of Madrid. The Renfe train was carrying 397 passengers, while the Iryo train had 147 passengers on board. The collision resulted in at least 69 fatalities and injured dozens of others.
According to reports, the accident occurred after a failure in an automatic safety or communication system. While the system failure had halted trains on a 63-kilometer stretch of track, central controllers in Madrid authorized the Renfe service to proceed. Leaked audio recordings of conversations between the Madrid control centre and train drivers suggest the Renfe train was cleared to move despite the Iryo train being stationary approximately 25 kilometers ahead.
Puente stated that he could not remain in office following two serious accidents in less than a year, referring to a January crash in Andalusia that killed 46 people on the same Madrid-Seville line. He also announced he is withdrawing from the November 29 snap general election.
In response to the incident, Puente announced several safety measures, including:
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the minister "faced up to the situation, provided answers and solutions, and then stepped aside."
The collision has placed Spain's high-speed rail network—the second-largest in the world after China's—under intense scrutiny. The incident occurred during a period of political tension ahead of the November 29 elections, with opposition parties and unions criticizing the government over rail safety and working conditions.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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