Spanish Transport Minister Resigns Over Train Collision That Killed 69

Madrid, Nov 3 (KUNA) -- Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente announced his resignation on Tuesday following a high-speed train collision in the Toledo region last week that killed 69 people and injured dozens. Speaking at the end of a session before the Spanish Parliament’s standing committee, which was dedicated to hearing his explanations regarding the accident and its repercussions, Puente said he had decided to step down out of “political responsibility,” noting that “a minister cannot remain in office after two serious accidents occur in less than a year.” He added that although he made the decision in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, he chose not to announce it until after an urgent mission to “ensure short-term railway safety” had been completed. The minister faced sharp criticism from the conservative right-wing party and the far-right Vox party, both of which called for his resignation and demanded he bear political responsibility for the fatal crash, just 26 days before Spain’s parliamentary elections. The Toledo accident comes about nine months after another fatal crash in Cordoba province that killed 46 people, making it the second deadly high-speed train accident in Spain this year. It has reignited debate in Spain over the safety of the railway network and the investments allocated for maintaining infrastructure, signaling systems, and control systems. The Spanish government announced measures to enhance safety, including a review of train operating speeds on certain lines, particularly those connecting the capital with the Andalusia region, and stricter authorization procedures for resuming services when signaling systems fail. (End) H.N.D. / M.A.H.A.