Spain transport minister resigns after deadly Urda train crash
Oscar Puente stepped down on Tuesday and withdrew from the November 29 general election following a collision that killed 69 people.
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente resigned on Tuesday following a high-speed train collision near Urda that killed at least 69 people. According to BBC News, Puente announced his decision in Congress six days after the accident occurred last Wednesday near the town south of Madrid.
The crash happened when a state-operated Renfe train hit the back of a stationary Iryo train. Reports from News18 and Moneycontrol state that a malfunction in an automatic safety system had stopped trains across a 63-km section of track, but a control centre subsequently authorised the Renfe train to continue its journey.
Puente stated that a minister cannot remain in office after two serious accidents in less than a year, noting a January crash in Andalusia that killed 46 people. He also withdrew his name from the candidate list for the general election scheduled for November 29.
Before resigning, Puente proposed new safety measures, including artificial intelligence to monitor operations and software to alert centres of movement irregularities. He also suggested that a second operator must approve decisions when automatic safety systems are not functioning.
The resignation follows pressure from opposition parties and railway unions. The train drivers' union Semaf has called for strikes on November 10 and 12, citing poor working conditions and faulty safety systems. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said authorities will investigate every detail of the tragedy.