Spanish transport minister resigns days after deadly train crash

ByGuy Hedgecoe, Madrid and Jaroslav Lukiv. 3 November 2026, 20: 28 GMT.

Key points

• Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned – six days after the high-speed train collision in which at least 69 individuals were killed and dozens injured.
• According to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has, authorities will "get to the bottom of every last detail of this tragedy".
• The latest tragedy in Urda happened when a state-operated Renfe high-speed train smashed into the back of another stationary train operated by the Iryo firm.
• He remarked he had taken the decision immediately after the 28 October disaster.
• He confirmed his decision in Congress, where he had appeared to provide the circumstances of last Wednesday's crash near the town of Urda, south of the capital Madrid.

"A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two accidents of this seriousness in less than a year, " he remarked, additionally referring to a deadly crash in January in Andalusia, southern Spain.

In practice, the latest tragedy in Urda happened when a state-operated Renfe high-speed train smashed into the back of another stationary train operated by the Iryo firm.

Puente confirmed his decision at the end of a congressional session on Tuesday evening in which he had outlined new rail safety measures and been grilled by the opposition.

Puente had been under mounting pressure as opposition parties and some allies of the administration called on him to step down.

Leaked audio recordings published in Spanish media shortly after the crash disclosed conversations between train drivers and a control centre just minutes before the disaster.

Three tapes between Madrid's control centre and two train drivers appear to show that one high-speed train was given clearance to move even though another train had halted on the track, concerning 25km (15 miles) ahead.

Taken together, the developments around spanish transport minister resigns days after deadly train crash point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.