Spanish transport minister resigns days after deadly train crash

Key points

• Spain's transport minister Óscar Puente resigned six days after a high-speed train collision near Urda killed at least 69 people.
• Puente cited a second serious crash in Andalusia in January as part of his reason for stepping down.
• Leaked audio suggested one train was cleared to move while another had stopped on the track ahead.

Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned six days after a high-speed train collision near the town of Urda, south of Madrid, in which at least 69 people were killed and dozens injured. He announced the decision in Congress on Tuesday evening, after appearing to explain the circumstances of last Wednesday's crash and being questioned by the opposition.

Puente said he had made the decision immediately after the 28 October disaster. He had faced growing pressure, with opposition parties and some government allies calling for him to step down.

Reason given for resignation

Puente told Congress that a transport minister in a country like Spain could not stay in office after two accidents of this seriousness in less than a year, also referring to a deadly crash in January in Andalusia, southern Spain.

The Urda collision happened when a state-operated Renfe high-speed train hit the back of a stationary train operated by the Iryo company. During the session, Puente outlined new rail safety measures.

get to the bottom of every last detail of this tragedy

— Pedro Sánchez

Leaked recordings and response

Soon after the crash, Spanish media published leaked audio recordings of conversations between train drivers and a control centre from minutes before the disaster. Three tapes between Madrid's control centre and two drivers appear to show one high-speed train was given clearance to move even though another train had stopped on the track about 25km (15 miles) ahead.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said authorities will "get to the bottom of every last detail of this tragedy".