Madrid: Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Spain’s Transport Ministry in Madrid on Wednesday night, demanding the resignation of Transport Minister Óscar Puente after a high-speed train collision killed at least 68 people and injured around 100 others. The demonstration turned tense as some protesters threw bottles and flares at police, who deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd, according to Reuters.

The crash occurred on Wednesday, October 28, when a Renfe high-speed train travelling from Madrid towards Seville collided with a stationary Iryo train. The collision has intensified scrutiny of Spain’s railway safety systems, with rescue workers continuing to search the wreckage and emergency services working at the scene.

Protesters demand accountability

Demonstrators gathered outside the ministry, chanting slogans against Puente and calling for government officials to resign. Some held signs reading “Leave!”, “Criminals” and “Corruption kills”.

Spain’s trade union CSIF also called for Puente’s resignation, accusing him of shifting responsibility onto a railway official instead of accepting accountability. The union urged the government to respect the investigation and the presumption of innocence of Adif’s head of traffic.

CSIF further said it had warned in September about excessive working hours at Adif, the state-owned company responsible for railway infrastructure.

Signal failure under investigation

Puente said a disruption to the railway safety system had affected a 63-kilometre stretch of track between Madrid and Seville. The disruption automatically stopped trains in the area before Adif took manual control of the system.

According to the minister, the Renfe train was then authorised to continue despite an active red signal, with a stationary train ahead. Puente described the order as “inexplicable”. The circumstances surrounding the decision are expected to be examined as part of the investigation.

The cause of the collision has not been conclusively established, and the reported signal-related failure remains a key area of scrutiny.

Rescue operations and government response

More than 500 emergency personnel were deployed to the crash site, where rescue teams worked under floodlights and used cranes to assist operations. The death toll stood at at least 68, with around 100 people reported injured.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the collision as a “terrible tragedy” and promised a thorough investigation. He said any negligence identified would be addressed firmly. The opposition People’s Party cancelled its campaign events for the day ahead of an election scheduled for next month.

Rail services between Madrid and the Andalusia region remained suspended on Thursday as authorities dealt with the aftermath of the disaster.

Why the crash has triggered political pressure

The collision has raised questions about railway safety, operational decisions and accountability within Spain’s rail network. The reported decision to allow a train to proceed despite a red signal has placed the actions of railway infrastructure officials under scrutiny.

The union’s allegations about excessive working hours have added another issue for investigators and railway authorities to examine, although they do not establish a cause for the collision.

Calls for Puente’s resignation reflect growing public anger, but responsibility for the disaster will depend on the findings of the investigation. The government has promised to examine the circumstances and address any failures identified.

The suspension of services between Madrid and Andalusia also highlights the immediate disruption caused by the crash, while the investigation is likely to shape further debate over railway safety and oversight.