Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Ponte submitted his resignation on Tuesday in the wake of a collision between two high-speed trains last week, in which 69 people were killed, including 12 foreigners of different nationalities.
Published on: 03/11/2026 - 21:42 Last updated: 03/11/2026 - 22:19
The Spanish authorities are continuing their investigations to determine the causes of the catastrophic collision between two high-speed trains last week, while Transport Minister Oscar Puente submitted his resignation on Tuesday evening under pressure from trade unions and representatives from across the political spectrum, in the second serious accident witnessed by the Spanish railway network this year.
The minister said at the end of a lengthy session before the representatives, “I would like to inform you that I am not only relinquishing my duties as Minister of Transport, but I am also renouncing my candidacy” for the early legislative elections scheduled for November 29. Since the disaster, he had repeatedly ruled out submitting his resignation.
He added, "The Minister of Transport in a country like Spain cannot remain in his position after two such serious accidents in less than a year, no matter how different they are, and whether I bear direct responsibility for them or not," also referring to the Adamuth disaster that killed 46 people in January in Andalusia, in the south of the country. "It is a matter of political dignity, consistency and compassion for the victims," he continued.
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He stressed, "I made my decision about my future in the first minutes following the tragedy, as soon as I learned of it."
He added, "I announced this decision today in the most appropriate place for that, the seat of national sovereignty, after I completed what I considered the most urgent work that cannot be postponed: conducting preliminary investigations (...) and taking the first measures to compensate (the victims) and improve the safety of our railway network in the short term, as much as possible."
Puente presented to reporters on Tuesday morning, following the Cabinet meeting, “an exceptional plan to enhance the safety of the high-speed train network,” along with an aid package for survivors and families of the victims.
He stressed that the government will work "tirelessly" to "restore the confidence" of the population in the Spanish high-speed train network.
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54 Spanish citizens and 15 foreigners
The team responsible for identifying the bodies, which includes two policemen and forensic experts, reported that the victims were 54 Spanish citizens and 15 foreigners.
The team explained that the foreign victims were: four Americans, two Australians, two Japanese, and a citizen of Argentina, Canada, France, Mexico, Portugal, Czechia, and Tunisia.
France 24/AFP
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