Óscar Puente’s nearly three years as Spain’s minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility were defined by rail tragedies, but his record also covered airport investment, public transport discounts and legislation. He resigned on Tuesday following the rail accident in Urda, Toledo, and thanked Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in his farewell remarks. Sánchez announced that Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo would take over the portfolio.
Rail remained central to Puente’s tenure, including the management of Cercanías and Rodalies services and the purchase of new trains. Puente said 200 new trains were expected for Rodalies. Separately, Renfe signed a contract worth more than €1.2 billion for 40 trains, which are not due to arrive for 40 months.
The ministry also maintained transport discounts introduced amid high prices and inflation. Puente’s government launched a single pass covering transport services under the ministry’s authority, but did not extend it to all urban and interurban services, including those managed by regional governments. Puente said shortly before the Urda accident that participation from regional or local administrations was still needed.
In October 2025, the government approved the Sustainable Mobility Law. Most of its provisions had been drafted during the previous parliamentary term, and the legislation was linked to the receipt of European funds. It sets out a goal of climate neutrality by mid-century and the decarbonisation of the transport system.
Airport investment was another major part of the ministry’s agenda. A total of €13 billion was committed to airport upgrades in the coming years, including more than €4 billion for Madrid-Barajas and over €1.7 billion for the expansion of Barcelona-El Prat. The investments are funded through the DORA III programme, under which airlines pay fees to use public airport facilities.
That funding framework led to a public dispute with Ryanair. Puente accused the airline of “blackmail and extortion” over its demands for lower fees and said airport charges should not be set to serve the company’s interests. In September 2025, he argued in Congress that Ryanair was shifting flights from regional airports to more profitable locations rather than simply reducing its services.
Puente also pointed to a maintenance shortfall of nearly €5 billion on state roads and said his ministry had spent almost all the funds available to it, including nearly €11 billion in European funding. During his tenure, road transport operators raised concerns over costs, prompting aid measures such as support to offset increases in professional diesel prices.
The DANA floods two years ago also shaped Puente’s public role. He appeared before the media repeatedly to report on infrastructure reconstruction and recovery work. In his resignation speech, he said that things “can and should be improved.”
Sources: elDiario.es.