Spain's transport minister Puente announces resignation after Urda train collision kills at least 69

Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente announced on 3 November 2026 that he would step down, according to the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Le Monde, Reuters and AP. He also said he was withdrawing from the candidate lists for the 29 November general election, the BBC, Deutsche Welle and Le Monde reported. The BBC quoted him as saying in Congress: "A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two accidents of this seriousness in less than a year."

The announcement came six days after a collision near Urda, south of Madrid, killed at least 69 people, according to the BBC, Deutsche Welle, Le Monde and AP. The BBC and Deutsche Welle said a high-speed train run by state-owned Renfe hit a stopped train run by private company Iryo. Both also said a January crash killed 46 people. The BBC reported dozens injured.

The BBC said a reported issue with the automatic signalling system had forced trains to halt on the affected stretch, while Deutsche Welle said the failure of an automated safety system had stopped them. Deutsche Welle said a control center allowed the Renfe train to proceed; the BBC said leaked recordings appear to show that clearance.

The BBC, AP and Le Monde describe Puente as having resigned or stepped down. Deutsche Welle and Reuters say he offered or said he would resign, without specifying when he would leave.

What is not yet known: The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not say when Puente will leave his post, name a successor or include a response from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. They describe no official finding on the cause or responsibility, and do not explain why the Renfe train was cleared. They give no precise injury count and do not say whether the recordings have been independently authenticated.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.