Óscar Puente has decided to leave his post as Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, triggering one of the most complex and sensitive debates in Spain regarding infrastructure. His departure comes after he publicly addressed the nation's fixation on expanding the high-speed rail network without regard for costs or shared standards. Puente made these remarks during a press conference following a Council of Ministers meeting focused on optimizing railway safety, just hours before formally announcing his resignation to the Permanent Commission of the Congress of Deputies.
During the event, which took place one week after the tragic Urda accident involving an AVE and an Iryo train that left 69 dead and dozens injured, Puente criticized the political use of infrastructure. He noted that every region demands high-speed lines and underground tunnels for their cities, viewing the absence of such projects as a sign of second-class status. "Analyze the history of this country over the last 20 or 30 years," Puente stated. "If you don't have high speed, you are nobody. If you don't have high speed, you are not treated as you deserve." He emphasized that no political leader is willing to renounce these projects for their territory.
The minister highlighted the financial implications of these demands, citing an approximate calculation that burying railway lines across Spain could cost 40 billion euros. He contrasted this approach with cities like Zurich or Bordeaux, which opt for softer integrations rather than expensive underground solutions. Puente described the current situation as a social spiral where decisions made over the last three decades may have been erroneous due to a lack of general criteria and finite resources. He framed the issue not as a partisan debate but as a societal one requiring adult political leadership.
Reports indicate that Puente had decided to resign shortly after the Urda accident on October 28, though he kept this decision secret until his press conference. Prior to his resignation, he faced pressure from opposition parties and coalition allies following the Urda tragedy and the earlier Adamuz incident in January, which resulted in 46 deaths. Despite initially stating that facing responsibility meant staying in office, he ultimately chose to step down.
Data confirms that Spain possesses one of the largest high-speed rail networks globally, ranking second only to China in length as of 2021. However, following the accidents in Angrois (2023), Adamuz, and Urda, the country now accounts for more than half of the fatalities recorded in the history of high-speed rail worldwide. While the deadliest single incident remains the 1998 Eschede crash in Germany with 101 deaths, Spain's recent safety record has intensified scrutiny on its infrastructure management.
Sources: Xataka.