Spain's Transport Minister Puente Resigns Over Urda Train Crash

Has Spain's deadliest rail disaster in years finally claimed a minister? Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned on Tuesday over the Urda crash in Toledo province, which killed 69 people and injured about 200. He announced the decision in Congress, calling it good for the country and for democracy. This is a major political moment.

Puente said Adif's control centre let the AVE keep running after its automatic safety system failed, and the train covered about 25 kilometres at over 160 kilometres per hour before the collision. The crash came nine months after a January derailment near Adamuz, Córdoba, that killed 46 people on the same Madrid-Seville line.

Pressure had built from the PP, Vox, PNV and Junts, whose votes Pedro Sánchez's government relies on. Puente also said he will not stand at the next election. Adif's works council agreed to push for a strike on 17 November over rail safety, although it has not yet been formally called.