Spain’s transport minister steps down six days after fatal high-speed rail crash

Madrid (AP) — Spain's transport minister, Óscar Puente, announced on Tuesday his resignation, six days after a high-speed train collision south of Madrid claimed 69 lives. Puente addressed lawmakers during a lengthy appearance, citing the second such deadly accident in less than a year as the reason for his decision to step down.

The October 28 crash occurred when a high-speed train collided with another that had stopped on the tracks. The incident began when the communication system essential to the security system on the Madrid-Seville line failed. Central controllers in Madrid authorized a state-operated Renfe high-speed train to proceed despite a stationary train ahead operated by Iryo.

This was the second major crash on the Madrid-Seville line this year; a similar accident in January resulted in 46 deaths. Puente had not made his resignation public until after the latest crash. Spain's high-speed rail network, hailed as a national achievement, has a worldwide ranking of the second-largest after China's, but had not seen a fatal incident since its inception over three decades ago.

In response to the recent accidents, Puente announced safety measures, such as enhancing control center conditions and accelerating the implementation of the European Rail Traffic Management System for improved safety and signaling.