Óscar Puente

Rule Changes

Resigned as transport minister on November 3, 2026, six days after the Urda crash

Spain votes on November 29 in a snap election Pedro Sánchez called after parliament rejected his housing measures. Campaigning restarted in early November after the Urda train crash killed 69 people, the second fatal high-speed collision in nine months after 46 died near Córdoba.

Updated 2 days ago

Built World

Was transport minister at the time of the Urda crash; no longer in the post

At 8:31 on 28 October, the signalling system that keeps trains apart on Spain's Madrid-Seville high-speed line failed, stopping seven trains across more than 63 kilometres. Eighty-two minutes later, a Renfe train cleared to resume normal speed hit a stationary Iryo train near Urda, killing 69 people.

Updated 2 days ago

Built World

Resigned on November 3, saying he could not continue after two major train accidents in less than a year, and withdrew from the November 29 general election.

A state-owned Renfe train from Madrid to Seville hit a stationary private Iryo train near Urda on October 28, killing 69 people. Transport Minister Óscar Puente blamed an 'inexplicable' control-centre order issued after the Renfe train's automatic safety system failed, then resigned and withdrew from the November 29 election.

Updated 4 days ago

Built World

Detailed minute-by-minute timeline; said LZB failures this year are in line with European average

At least 69 people were killed and 179 injured when a Renfe AVE train hit a stationary Iryo train near Urda, in Toledo province, on October 28. Transport Minister Óscar Puente said on October 31 that the AVE was cleared to resume normal speed at 8:36 a.m., eight minutes after the LZB signaling system failed, while the Iryo train reported it could not move at 8:48 a.m. and the control center took no action. The AVE traveled about 25 kilometers and exceeded 160 km/h before the 8:53 a.m. collision.

Updated Oct 31