Spanish transport minister resigns after train crash killed 69 people

Puente announced his resignation on Tuesday, stating he could not 'continue in office' after the second major train accident in less than a year. He has also withdrawn from the upcoming general election. The minister said he decided to resign immediately after last week's crash but remained in office while the government coordinated its initial response.

Deadly Collision

Last Wednesday, a high-speed train operated by state-owned Renfe slammed into a stationary train at an estimated speed of 60 to 200 kilometres per hour on the Madrid-Seville line. The accident occurred after trains on a particular stretch had been ordered to stop due to a signal failure.

Central controllers in Madrid, who had assumed control after the failure, authorized the Renfe train to continue its journey, resulting in a collision with a privately operated Iryo train. This follows a high-speed train derailment in January in Andalusia that killed 46 people.

Safety Measures

In response to the crash, services on the Madrid-Seville line have been reduced while the Railway Safety Agency reviews the line's safety system. The government is also completing a delayed rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System.

Spain will introduce an artificial intelligence agent designed to reduce human error by detecting anomalies and monitoring conversations between train drivers and controllers. Puente noted Spain would be the first country to roll out such a safety mechanism.

Compensation for Victims

Victims and their families will receive compensation under a 30-million-euro ($33.5m) aid package announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Bereaved families will receive 72,121 euros ($80,776) in direct aid along with an equal amount in advance compensation.