Alberto Núñez Feijóo has accused the Spanish government of reducing responsibility for the serious train crash in Urda in the province of Toledo to “one worker”. The Partido Popular leader called for the dismissal of Transport Minister Óscar Puente on 2 November 2026 and demanded that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez make a public statement himself. According to Feijóo, the government is deliberately looking for a single person to blame instead of examining systemic causes.
The accident occurred on 28 October 2026, when two passenger trains collided near Urda. According to the information available so far, at least 69 people died. The exact sequence of events and causes are under investigation. On 29 October, Pedro Sánchez announced via La Moncloa that coordination bodies would be convened and a full investigation would be ensured.
Feijóo linked his criticism to the accusation that responsibility was being shifted towards the operating and control bodies of the state infrastructure operator Adif. He called the conduct “infamous” and said the government had quickly looked for a scapegoat. His pointed remarks are documented in his public statements.
The Transport Ministry rejected the accusation. Minister Óscar Puente said he would not “use a worker as a shield” and pointed to the ongoing investigations. At the same time, according to RTVE , the government is working on a royal decree to approve emergency aid for those affected and their families. Such support measures are intended to run alongside the technical and forensic investigation.
Government sources say that initial internal reports will examine various decisions and procedures within the control and operating systems, without rushing to assign personal blame. The investigation is said to be focusing on technology, communications, operating rules and decision-making processes on the day of the accident. A sound legal assessment will only be possible once the investigations are complete.
Nevertheless, Feijóo is calling for political consequences before the legal process is complete. He linked his demands to earlier incidents, including the Adamuz accident a few months ago, and questioned the central government’s leadership responsibility. The government counters that it has promised transparency and activated the main coordination bodies.
What is clear is that the casualty figures remain provisional, identification work is ongoing, and the relevant authorities are examining technical data, communication records and decision-making processes. Both sides stress that any political consequences will be judged in light of the investigation’s findings.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).