Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente Resigns After Deadly Train Crash

Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned on Tuesday, less than a week after a high-speed train collision in central Spain killed 69 people. He also withdrew from the upcoming general election, according to Al Jazeera.

The crash happened on 28 October near Urda, in the Toledo area of the Castilla-La Mancha region, on the Madrid-Seville line. A state-owned Renfe high-speed train collided with a stationary Iryo train, which is operated privately. According to Spain's Transport Ministry, the Renfe train had been ordered to stop after a signal failure. Central controllers in Madrid, who had taken over control of the line, then authorised it to continue, and the two trains collided.

Puente said he decided to resign immediately after the crash, but he stayed in office while the government coordinated its initial response. He said a transport minister cannot remain in office after two accidents of this severity in less than a year. In January, a high-speed train derailed in Andalusia and killed 46 people.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a 30-million-euro ($33.5 million) aid package for the victims and families of the October crash. Families of those killed will receive 72,121 euros ($80,776) in direct aid, along with an equal amount in advance compensation.

Services on the Madrid-Seville line have been reduced while the Railway Safety Agency reviews the line's safety system. Renfe has opened the telephone number 900 10 10 20 for families and people affected by the accident. Adif has set up assistance spaces for them at Atocha in Madrid, and in Seville, Córdoba and Málaga.

Spain also plans to introduce an AI agent, a software system, to reduce human error. The planned system would detect anomalies and monitor conversations between train drivers and controllers.