Why Did Spain's Transport Minister Resign After 115 People Died in Two Train Crashes?
What Happened in Spain's Train Crashes?
Spain's transport minister, Óscar Puente, said on Tuesday 3 November 2026 that he would resign following two serious train crashes in Spain that together killed 115 people in less than a year. He did not give a date for his resignation, according to Reuters reporting reproduced by Youlyou.
Puente said: "No transport minister in a country like Spain can continue after two accidents this serious in less than a year." He said he had decided to resign after the second crash, on 28 October, but had stayed in post to deal with the aftermath and to put in place measures to prevent a recurrence.
- First crash: January 2026, on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line, involving Renfe and Iryo trains — 46 people killed.
- Second crash: 28 October 2026, near Urda in central Spain, when a high-speed Renfe train hit a stationary Iryo train on the same line — 69 people killed.
- Total: 115 people killed across the two crashes.
The Crash Near Urda and the Investigation
The 28 October crash happened near Urda, in central Spain. A high-speed Renfe train struck a stationary Iryo train on the Madrid–Seville line. The earlier crash in January happened on the same line and involved the same two operators.
The causes of the October crash were still under investigation at the time of Puente's announcement. Puente had previously said that a computer fault had disabled the signalling system, before a control centre order to resume train movement, which he described as inexplicable. Investigations estimated the collision speed at 160 to 200 km/h, according to Reuters, and authorities were examining the sequence of decisions and actions before the collision.
The two crashes reopened debate about safety and maintenance in Spain's high-speed rail network, the largest in Europe.
Why Puente Changed His Position
Puente's announcement was a reversal of the position he had taken on Friday, when he refused demands for his resignation. He had said then that responsibility meant facing the crisis, explaining what had happened and fixing the system.
He faced criticism from various parties, including government allies, and rail unions objected to attributing the crash to human errors before investigations were complete.
Support for Those Affected
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government's priority was helping those affected and restoring confidence in high-speed trains. Puente presented safety measures to members of parliament.
The government was preparing an aid package, including doubling payments under compulsory passenger insurance, expediting compensation and improving temporary disability coverage for those affected.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the two train crashes in Spain?
A: A total of 115 people died: 46 in the crash in January 2026 and 69 in the crash near Urda on 28 October 2026.
Where did the October 2026 crash happen?
A: Near Urda in central Spain, on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line, where a high-speed Renfe train hit a stationary Iryo train.
Why did Óscar Puente say he would resign?
A: He said no transport minister in a country like Spain could continue after two accidents this serious in less than a year. He said he had decided to resign after the second crash but stayed to deal with the aftermath and to put measures in place to prevent a recurrence.
What is being investigated?
A: The cause of the October crash, including a reported computer fault that disabled the signalling system, a control centre order to resume train movement, and the sequence of decisions and actions before the collision, which investigations estimated happened at 160 to 200 km/h.
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