Spain's transport minister steps down after fatal high‑speed train collision

Spain's transport minister Óscar Puente resigned six days after a high‑speed train crash near Urda that killed at least 69 people and injured dozens. The accident happened on 28 October when a state‑run Renfe train struck the rear of a stationary Iryo service about 25 km south of Madrid. Rescue crews used heavy lifting equipment to reach derailed carriages where passengers were trapped. Puente announced his departure in a congressional session where he had just presented new rail‑safety measures and faced sharp questions from opposition members. He said he decided to quit immediately after the disaster and pointed to the deadly January crash in Andalusia as another reason a minister could not stay in office. Opposition parties and some coalition partners had been calling for his resignation for weeks. Leaked audio released by Spanish media includes three recordings from Madrid’s control centre that show a train was cleared to move even though another train was stopped on the track about 25 km ahead. The January accident in Andalusia had also claimed several lives and raised doubts about signalling systems. The national railway safety agency will lead a probe into signalling protocols and driver communications. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged a thorough investigation of every detail of the tragedy. ## Context Train accidents have sparked public debate over Spain’s rail safety oversight, and the resignation highlights political pressure to improve monitoring after two serious incidents within a year.