Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, announced his resignation yesterday, Tuesday, following the 28 October train crash that killed 69 people. Puente also withdrew his candidacy from the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for 29 November, amid growing pressure on Pedro Sánchez’s government.
Puente, who had initially ruled out resigning, announced his decision at the end of a lengthy parliamentary hearing. Just hours earlier, he had pledged that the government would work “tirelessly” to restore public confidence in high-speed rail services.
The crash occurred near Urda, south of Madrid, when a train operated by state-owned Renfe collided with a stationary train operated by private company Iryo. An automatic safety system had malfunctioned, but the control centre allowed the Renfe train to continue its journey. Opposition parties and trade unions criticised Puente for appearing to place the blame on a control centre operator.
This was Spain’s second deadly train crash this year, following a collision in Andalusia in January that killed 46 people.
The train drivers’ union Semaf has raised concerns about deteriorating working conditions and the use of systems with limited functionality, calling strikes for 10 and 12 November. Critics have also argued that investment in maintenance has failed to keep pace with rising passenger numbers following the liberalisation of the rail sector in 2021.
Puente had previously announced measures to improve safety, including new control software with automatic alerts, the use of AI and changes to working conditions for control centre operators. A €30 million aid package for victims and their families was also approved.
The crash was Spain’s second major fatal rail accident this year, following a train collision in Andalusia in January that killed 46 people.
Source: The Guardian
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