Spain’s transport minister resigns after deadly rail collision, report says
Original report: date unavailable
Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente has resigned following a high-speed train collision that reportedly killed at least 69 people. The supplied BBC report describes mounting political pressure and questions about signalling and instructions given to drivers.
Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente has stepped down after a train collision near Urda, south of Madrid, according to the supplied BBC report. At least 69 people were reported killed and dozens injured when a moving train struck a stationary service. Puente announced his departure in Congress and said he would also withdraw from the forthcoming election.
The report says opposition parties and some government allies had demanded his resignation. A Renfe train reportedly collided with an Iryo service following signalling problems. Leaked recordings described in the article appear to raise questions about control-centre instructions, but do not establish the cause of the crash.
The report places the resignation amid concerns about confidence in Spain’s rail network and pressure on the Socialist-led government ahead of an early election. Its account centres on political responsibility and operational communications; it provides neither a completed accident investigation nor independent confirmation of what caused the collision.
Source
BBC News
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