Spanish Transport Minister resigns over train crash disasters

On November 3, 2026, Óscar Puente, Spain's Transport Minister, resigned from his position six days after a high-speed train crash near Urda, south of Madrid, which killed at least 69 people and injured dozens. The resignation came during an appearance before lawmakers where details about the crash were discussed. This is the second deadly collision involving Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network in a year. Key to the disaster was a malfunctioning communication system on the Madrid-Seville line; central controllers then gave clearance for one train to proceed despite another train being stalled ahead, leading to the collision. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has vowed to restore confidence in the rail network, which is the second-largest high-speed rail system globally.