Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced his resignation November 3, six days after a high-speed train collision killed 69 people and injured approximately 200 others near Urda, south of Madrid. His departure follows two catastrophic railway accidents in Spain in less than a year, raising serious concerns about the safety of the country’s extensive high-speed rail network.
Puente announced his decision during a parliamentary hearing examining the October 28 collision between a state-operated Renfe train and a stationary Iryo train. He also withdrew his candidacy from Spain’s November 29 general election.
“A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two accidents of this seriousness in less than a year,” Puente told lawmakers. It is unclear when his resignation will become effective.
The October collision occurred after a critical automatic train safety system failed on the Madrid-Seville line. Controllers subsequently authorized a Renfe high-speed train to proceed despite another train remaining stationary ahead. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding that decision.
The disaster followed a January collision near Adamuz, in southern Spain, that killed 46 people. That accident remains under investigation.
Puente initially resisted calls to resign, arguing that his responsibility was to oversee the investigation and implement safety improvements. However, he said he had privately decided to step down immediately after the October tragedy, describing his decision as a matter of political dignity and empathy for victims.
Before announcing his resignation, Puente outlined several proposed safety measures, including improved control-center procedures, automated warning software, additional operator oversight and accelerated implementation of European rail signaling technology.
Railway unions have also raised concerns about deteriorating working conditions and safety procedures, with strikes planned for November.
The resignation intensifies scrutiny of Spain’s high-speed rail system, historically regarded as among Europe’s most advanced, as authorities confront questions about operational oversight, infrastructure reliability and passenger safety.