Spanish transport minister resigns following fatal high speed train crash

Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned on Tuesday evening following a deadly high-speed train collision south of Madrid. The BBC reported that Puente announced his decision at the end of a lengthy congressional session after facing intense pressure from political opponents. [1]

Puente stated that he was stepping down from his ministerial position and withdrawing his name from the lists for upcoming early legislative elections. The BBC reported that the conservative People's Party, the far-right Vox party, and some government allies had demanded his resignation, arguing he should take responsibility for problems within the high-speed rail system. [1]

The resignation follows a major rail disaster on 28 October 2026. An AVE high-speed train collided with a stationary Iryo high-speed train in Los Yébenes, Toledo, on the line linking Madrid and Seville. The collision killed 69 people and injured more than 100 others. [1][2][4]

As FTMQ World reported earlier, Spanish authorities launched an official investigation into the collision immediately after the disaster. The incident marks the second fatal rail crash in Spain in 2026 and represents Europe's deadliest train disaster since 2013. [3][4]

Prior to his resignation announcement, Puente outlined new rail safety measures during the congressional session on Tuesday. The government had faced growing calls for accountability as investigators continue to examine the causes of the deadly collision. [1]