Spain's transport minister Oscar Puente to resign after train crash killed 69 people

Spain's transport minister has said he will step down after two deadly train crashes in less than a year.

Oscar Puente said he had taken the decision "in the very first minutes" after the latest crash on 28 October, which killed 69 people.

He said he continued ​in the job ⁠to address the consequences and prevent future accidents.

Mr Puente said: "A transport minister in a country ​like Spain ⁠cannot continue in ⁠office with two accidents of this ‌severity in less than a year, however different they may be and whether or not he bears direct responsibility for them.

"It is a matter of political dignity, consistency and empathy with the victims."

He has not specified when he will step down.

Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez posted on X: "Oscar Puente has stood up, offered solutions and then stepped aside.

"Out of dignity. Of his own accord. Out of respect for the victims and the progressive cause. Politicians like him bring honour to our country and show us that we are not all the same."

The latest collision occurred last week near the town of Urda in central Spain, after several trains were automatically stopped due to a signalling system failure.

The central control centre in Madrid took over, and a high-speed Renfe train was allowed to proceed - even though another stationary train operated by Iryo was on the tracks ahead.

Rail unions demanded Mr Puente's immediate dismissal following the crash and he was criticised for attributing blame to a break in protocol by control centre operators.

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It was the second major incident on the Madrid-Seville line this year. In January, 46 people were killed when a train derailed and struck another travelling in the opposite direction. That crash remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon, three railcars collided with a locomotive in Martorell, near Barcelona, injuring a train driver.

Railway unions in Spain have announced plans to strike on 17 November over railway safety.

(c) Sky News 2026: Spain's transport minister Oscar Puente to resign after train crash killed 69 people