Spain’s transport minister quits over 28 October train crash

Spain’s transport minister, Puente, resigned at the end of a congressional session on Tuesday evening, days after a deadly train crash on 28 October.

He announced his decision after outlining new rail safety measures at the session, where the opposition questioned him. He said he had taken the decision immediately after the disaster.

Puente had been under mounting pressure as opposition parties and some allies of the government called on him to step down.

Leaked audio recordings published in Spanish media soon after the crash revealed conversations between train drivers and a control centre just minutes before the disaster. Three tapes between Madrid’s control centre and two train drivers appear to show that one high-speed train was given clearance to move even though another train had stopped on the track, about 25km (15 miles) ahead.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said that authorities will “get to the bottom of every last detail of this tragedy”.