Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente will formally request an appearance before the Permanent Deputation of Congress, the parliamentary body that can act when the full chamber is not sitting, to explain the fatal rail crash near Toledo, according to El Nacional.

The hearing request follows the collision on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line. For Toledo residents and passengers using the corridor, the reported sequence focuses attention on the safety controls and train-movement instructions in place before the crash.

El Nacional reported that Puente will also hold a press conference on Friday 30th October. The minister ruled out resigning at a press conference at Madrid’s Atocha station on Wednesday 28th October, the outlet said.

Minister points to control-centre instruction

According to El Nacional’s account of Puente’s remarks, the LZB system, a train-protection system that supervises speed and signalling, failed at about 8.30am at Urda station after communications problems involving three network computers. Trains were stopped on a 63-kilometre section without that safety system.

The minister said the Adif control centre at Atocha, operated by Spain’s state-owned rail-infrastructure manager, authorised a Renfe train to continue at normal speed at about 8.36am. El Nacional reported that an Iryo train was stopped ahead and that a red signal prevented the Renfe service from proceeding.

Under the protocol described by Puente, the train should have continued in “visible running”, meaning the driver proceeds cautiously on sight, at no more than 40 kilometres per hour. El Nacional reported that the train travelled about 25 kilometres before colliding with the Iryo service at 8.53am.

“I have not attributed responsibility to anyone at the moment; the investigation will have to do so,” Puente said, according to El Nacional. “I will appear as many times as necessary and will give the necessary explanations.”

Sánchez promises full inquiry and stronger safety

Speaking in Toledo on Thursday 29th October alongside Castilla-La Mancha president Emiliano García-Page, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government was working “day and night” for victims’ families and to establish what happened, El Nacional reported.

“We will clarify every last detail of this tragedy and, of course, strengthen security so that this does not happen again,” Sánchez said, according to El Nacional.

PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo visited the site on Thursday and called for resignations. He described blaming control-centre staff before the investigation’s conclusion as “a frivolity unbecoming of a minister and a government”, El Nacional reported.

Sources: El Nacional.