Spain's transport minister resigns after train crash; opposition says it came too late

Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced his resignation during a session in Congress following the crash near the town of Urda in Toledo, where two high-speed trains collided and 69 people were killed. Puente said he could not remain in office after two fatal accidents occurred within nine months.

Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned after a crash on October 28 near the town of Urda in Toledo, where two high-speed trains collided and 69 people were killed. Puente announced his decision at the end of a session of Congress's Permanent Deputation, which he attended to address the crash; he said he had informed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez only a few minutes earlier.

"I made the decision about my future in the first minutes after the tragedy," Puente said, describing his resignation as "a matter of political honor, consistency and empathy with the victims." Puente stressed that a transport minister could not remain in office after a second fatal disaster within nine months, following the Adamuz crash in January, and announced that he would not stand on the Socialist Party (PSOE) lists in the general election on November 29.

Óscar Puente at the crash site in Urda

"The control center received the message but took no action"

Puente also described the chain of events that led to the crash during the session. According to the minister, the LZB signaling system on the line was disabled because of "a communication failure between three computers." The Iryo train numbered 6076, operated by a private company, reported that it could not resume its journey after stopping because of the failure, but "the control center received the message and took no action." At 8:36 a.m., the control center allowed Renfe's state-operated AVE train numbered 2080 to continue "at normal speed, not within sight distance," and the AVE struck the stationary train from behind.

"I will not hide behind anyone," Puente said, adding that he would fully support the judicial investigation into the crash, which is subject to a confidentiality order. Adif, Renfe and Iryo are also preparing a separate technical report.

Opposition: "The resignation came 116 deaths too late"

The resignation did not quell the opposition's reaction. People's Party (PP) spokesperson Ester Muñoz said the resignation came "116 deaths too late," referring to the fatalities in the Adamuz and Urda crashes. Vox lawmaker Pepa Millán said, "Human life has no value for you," while coalition partner Sumar and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) had also argued during the session that Puente should resign. Prime Minister Sánchez described the resignation as an honorable step.

Photos: Social media

Spain's transport minister resigns after train crash; opposition says it came too late