Madrid: Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente resigned on Tuesday following a train crash that killed 69 people, one of Europe's deadliest railway disasters this century. He also withdrew from the November 29 general election, dealing another setback to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez ahead of the snap polls.

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Puente said he had decided to step down within minutes of learning about the tragedy, which occurred last week. He acknowledged that a transport minister could not remain in office after two serious railway accidents in less than a year, even if he did not bear direct responsibility for them.

"A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two accidents of such seriousness in less than a year, however different they may be, whether or not I bear direct responsibility," Puente told parliament.

He added that he was making his decision public in parliament, which he considered the appropriate place to announce it.

The latest crash, along with another railway disaster in January that killed 46 people in Andalusia, has overshadowed campaigning ahead of the November 29 election. Sanchez is trailing in opinion polls, adding to the political pressure on his government.

Puente's resignation follows mounting criticism from the right-wing opposition and trade unions, which had called for him to step down. Critics also accused him of placing too much responsibility for the latest accident on a control centre operator.

Train safety measures announced

Hours before announcing his resignation, Puente had outlined measures to improve railway safety and restore public confidence in Spain's high-speed rail network, the world's second-largest.

The latest accident occurred on Wednesday outside the village of Urda, around 130 kilometres south of Madrid. A train operated by state-owned Renfe collided with the rear of a stationary train belonging to private operator Iryo.

An automatic safety system failure had brought all trains to a halt along a 63-kilometre stretch of track. However, a control centre subsequently authorised the Renfe train to resume its journey, leading to the collision.

Among the measures announced by Puente was the development of software that would automatically alert control centres to irregularities in railway traffic.

He also proposed introducing an artificial intelligence agent to monitor the system and reduce the possibility of human error.

Under the proposed changes, decisions taken by a control centre operator when the automatic safety system is not functioning would require confirmation from a second operator.

Puente said the working conditions of control centre staff would also be reviewed, including provisions for breaks and monitoring fatigue levels.

Unions raise concerns over railway safety

The train drivers' union Semaf has called strikes at Renfe for November 10 and 12, citing deteriorating working conditions and the use of what it described as "degraded systems".

Critics have argued that investment in railway maintenance has failed to keep pace with rising passenger numbers since Spain liberalised its rail network in 2021, ending Renfe's decades-long monopoly and allowing private operators to enter the market.

Puente also announced a 30-million-euro aid package (approximately $33.5 million) for the families of those killed and the dozens injured in last week's crash.

The January accident in Andalusia, which claimed 46 lives, occurred on the key railway line connecting Madrid and Seville. The route was Spain's first high-speed railway when it opened in 1992.

The two disasters have intensified scrutiny of railway safety and maintenance standards in Spain.