Spain's Transport Chief Resigns After Fatal Rail Crash

Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned Tuesday, ending his tenure six days after a high-speed rail collision killed 69 people.

Puente made the announcement following a lengthy session with lawmakers. He stated that a transport minister in Spain could not stay in office after two serious accidents in less than a year. The Oct. 28 crash occurred when a moving train struck a stationary one on the tracks.

The incident began when the communication system for the security network on the Madrid-Seville line failed. Controllers in Madrid took over command and authorized a Renfe high-speed train to move forward, despite an Iryo train being stopped ahead. This was the second major collision on that specific route this year. A January derailment further south killed 46 people when a train struck another traveling in the opposite direction.

Puente said he decided to resign immediately after the October crash but kept the decision private until Tuesday. The series of accidents has increased scrutiny on the safety of Spain's rail infrastructure. The most recent disaster happened four weeks before a national election.

Spain operates the world's second-largest high-speed rail network, behind only China. The system had avoided a fatal crash for more than three decades since it began service. The network is often cited as a key achievement of the country's infrastructure development.

Earlier in the day, Puente outlined new safety measures for the government to implement. These include upgrades to control centers and an accelerated rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System. The system is designed to standardize safety and signaling across the network.