The train accident last Wednesday in Urda (Toledo) continues to project consequences on several fronts at once: human, judicial, political, and technical.
The human toll is the most serious. 69 people have died and dozens more were injured. Forensic experts have completed all 69 autopsies and, according to the latest data available this Sunday afternoon, have identified 56 of the deceased.
On the judicial front, the collection of belongings of those affected, both on the AVE and Iryo trains, concluded this Sunday.
The head of civil and investigative section number 2 of the Orgaz (Toledo) Court of First Instance, who is leading the investigation, has also issued a decree urgently requiring the crane company hired by Adif to provide the necessary operators and organize the shifts needed to relieve those who have been working for days in the accident area.
La Moncloa shares "the judicial swiftness" deemed essential to offer explanations to the victims' families about what happened.
On Tuesday, the Council of Ministers will receive a report from the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente. According to government sources, Puente himself will explain it at a press conference at the Palacio de la Moncloa, where he will also detail the aid for victims that the Executive plans to approve. This appearance will take place hours before his intervention before the Permanent Deputation of Congress.
Pressure grows for Puente's continuity
Puente has ruled out leaving office after the accident. He argues that his institutional duty is to manage the crisis, not to step aside from it. As he himself recounted, he offered his resignation to Pedro Sánchez in the first hours after the accident, and the president rejected it.
In La Moncloa, they insist that nothing has changed and Sánchez maintains his support for the minister. Meanwhile, the opposition, the usual partners of the governing coalition, and even the railway unions are demanding his departure.
But this protection is not necessarily definitive. If the pressure continues, it cannot be ruled out that the scenario will change. The pre-campaign has been suspended due to the tragedy, but there are 28 days left until the elections, and Sánchez will have to weigh how much it politically costs him to continue supporting his minister.
Renfe prepares new instructions to reinforce security
Renfe is preparing a document of instructions for its drivers with additional safety measures.
It has not yet made its content public and, as it is being drafted, it is not a definitive version.
The train drivers' union Semaf indicates that the text will follow the line of what it already requested from the State Railway Safety Agency (AESF): to prevent trains from running at normal speed when the LZB system fails.
According to what has emerged from these guidelines, drivers should confirm with Adif's control center that their block is empty before starting and notify that they will do so at reduced speed.