Spain's Rail Infrastructure Chief Steps Down After Toledo-Area Crash That Killed 69

Luis Pedro Marco de la Peña, president of Spain's rail infrastructure body Adif, has submitted his resignation to the country's new transport minister, Carlos Cuerpo.

Adif is responsible for Spain's rail infrastructure, signaling and traffic control. It has come under intense scrutiny after last week's devastating crash near Urda, Toledo, that claimed 69 lives.

The resignation was first reported by local media and was confirmed by a Spanish government official in a text message, according to the report.

It is the second resignation linked to the disaster in just 24 hours. Former transport minister Oscar Puente left his post on Tuesday night.

Puente stepped down following a marathon hearing before Congress' Permanent Deputation, where both allies and opponents urged him to resign.

Marco de la Peña's departure marks Cuerpo's first notable action since stepping into the ministry after Puente's resignation.

The Urda crash was Spain's second deadly rail accident of the year, following January's crash near Adamuz, which killed 46 people.

Earlier on Wednesday, Cuerpo convened with Marco de la Peña, Renfe President Álvaro Fernández Heredia and Secretary of State for Transport José Antonio Santano.

Just a day earlier, a senior government official had said there were no plans to remove Marco de la Peña and dismissed rumors of Puente's resignation. Yet Puente stepped down only hours later.

Puente had been adamant he was not going to resign — until he did so on Tuesday evening, the report said.