Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced his resignation in Congress following a high-speed train collision near Urda that killed at least 69 people.
Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente has announced his decision to resign following a high-speed train collision that resulted in at least 69 deaths and dozens of injuries. The announcement was made in Congress on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, following a session in which Puente outlined new rail safety measures and faced questioning from the opposition.
The collision occurred on October 28 near the town of Urda, south of the capital, Madrid. According to reports, a state-operated Renfe high-speed train smashed into the back of another stationary train operated by the Iryo company.
Leaked audio recordings published in Spanish media following the crash revealed conversations between train drivers and a control centre occurring minutes before the disaster. Three tapes between Madrid's control centre and two train drivers appear to show that one high-speed train was given clearance to move even though another train had stalled on the track, approximately 25km (15 miles) ahead.
Puente stated that he had made the decision to step down immediately after the October 28 disaster but waited several days to announce it so that he could continue working to tackle the consequences and implement measures to prevent future accidents.
"A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two accidents of this seriousness in less than a year," Puente said during his address to lawmakers. He was referring to the recent Urda collision and a previous deadly crash that occurred in January in Andalusia, southern Spain.
Puente had been facing mounting pressure to step down from both opposition parties and some allies of the government. While he has announced his intention to resign, he did not specify exactly when he will officially leave his post.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has stated that authorities will "get to the bottom of every last detail of this tragedy.", according to reports.
The collision has prompted significant political pressure on the Spanish government and has led to investigations into rail safety protocols and communication between train drivers and control centers.
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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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