Puente resigns after Urda crash as €30m aid starts

Óscar Puente resigned as Spain's transport minister on Tuesday, 3 November, six days after the Urda crash killed 69 people. He also withdrew from the 29 November election.

The crash happened on 28 October near Urda, in Toledo province. A Renfe AVE hit the rear of a stopped Iryo train on the Madrid–Seville high-speed line.

Why Puente left

Puente announced his decision after more than four hours before Congress's Permanent Deputation. He said he made up his mind within minutes of hearing about the crash.

He said he waited to go until urgent rail safety steps were in place. He told MPs a transport minister could not stay after two grave crashes in under a year. The earlier Adamuz crash in January killed 46 people.

Puente described his exit as an act of political dignity. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez later praised him for putting victims first and taking political responsibility.

At the hearing, Puente set out his account of the Urda crash. He said the LZB safety system failed and stopped seven trains across both tracks.

The control centre let AVE 2080 move again at 8:36 at normal speed, Puente said. It then let Iryo 6076 move at 8:41, but that train could not start.

Seven minutes later, the Iryo driver said the train was still stopped. Puente said the centre took no action. He said the AVE travelled about 25 kilometres and passed 160 kilometres per hour before the crash.

The exact causes remain under investigation. Puente defended the LZB system and said a €780 million renewal plan was under way.

Aid and travel costs

Earlier that day, the cabinet approved €30 million for people hit by the crash. The decree puts €15 million into urgent aid and €15 million into insurance advances.

Families of each person killed can receive just over €72,121 in direct aid. A separate advance of €72,121 also applies. The direct aid is tax-free, cannot be reclaimed, and can sit alongside insurance compensation.

Aid for injuries runs from just over €2,404 to more than €84,141, based on severity. Hurt workers get sick pay from the first day as if the injury happened at work.

Support offices will open through state delegations and sub-delegations. People who cannot travel can get help at home.

The decree also lets Spain cap the cost of other travel while the Madrid–Seville line stays shut. Puente said those prices had risen eight or nine times above pre-crash levels. He said the line could be back within 10 days.

Sources: Spain English; elDiario.es; Euronews; Europa Press