Spanish transport minister resigns days after deadly train crash

Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned six days after a deadly train collision that killed at least 69 people. He announced his decision in Congress following testimony on last Wednesday's disaster near Urda, south of Madrid. The crash occurred when a train collided with a stationary one, making it one of the worst rail disasters in Europe's modern history.

Puente cited recent accidents, including January's crash on the same line that killed 46 people, as reasons to step down. The opposition accused him of trying to deflect blame from his own failings, but his resignation came as a surprise. The incident happened at a critical time, with early general elections scheduled for November 29.

Many Spaniards now wonder if Puente's successors will restore confidence in the country's railway system. The accident involved a Renfe train with 397 passengers and an Iryo train with 147 passengers. A computer failure in the automatic signalling system is suspected to have contributed to the crash, as train drivers gave clearance to the Renfe train despite the other train being stationary on the track.