Spain's Transport Minister Puente resigns after two rail disasters in nine months

Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced his resignation after two high-speed trains collided near Urda in Toledo province, killing 69 people. Addressing Congress, he cited a signaling-system failure and an error at the control center, and said he would not run in the November 29 election.

Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced his resignation on Tuesday. The decision was linked to the October 28 disaster near the town of Urda in Toledo province, where two high-speed trains collided, killing 69 people. The minister announced his resignation at the end of an address to the permanent commission of the Congress of Deputies, after warning Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez only a few minutes earlier.

Puente said he had made the decision «in the first minutes after the tragedy». He called the resignation «a matter of political dignity, consistency and compassion for the victims», noting that the country had experienced two deadly rail disasters in nine months — in January near Adamuz and now near Urda. He also said he would not appear on the Socialist Workers' Party's candidate lists for the November 29 general election.

Скоростной поезд AVE компании Renfe на вокзале Аточа в Мадриде (архив)

Three-computer failure and permission to «proceed normally»

Puente described the chain of errors in detail. The line's LZB signaling system failed because of what he described as a communication breakdown between three computers. The stopped train operated by private carrier Iryo reported that it could not resume its journey, but «the center received the message and took no action». At 8:36, the control center authorized a state-owned Renfe AVE train to continue «in normal operation, rather than with restricted visibility», and it crashed into the rear of the stationary train.

«I will not hide behind anyone,» the minister said, promising full cooperation with the judicial investigation, which is being conducted under secrecy. Adif, Renfe and Iryo are preparing a separate technical report.

Opposition: resignation came too late

The resignation did not placate the government's opponents. People's Party representative Ester Muñoz said it came «116 deaths too late», referring to the victims of both disasters. The minister's resignation was also demanded by the Socialists' coalition partners in Sumar and by the Basque Nationalist Party. Pedro Sánchez called the minister's decision dignified.

Photo: RTVE, Wikimedia Commons (archive)

Spain's Transport Minister Puente resigns after two rail disasters in nine months