Puente says that the Atocha workers could see the location of the trains on screen

Transport Minister Óscar Puente addressed the recent train collision in Urda, Toledo, which resulted in 69 fatalities. He explained that the LZB signaling system failed due to a communication error, leading to reliance on secondary systems. Despite operators being able to see both trains on screens, the AVE train did not stop before colliding with the Iryo train. Puente noted that the BSL system should have prevented the AVE from entering the same section as the Iryo, but both trains were already in the same cantón when the LZB failed. The minister emphasized the need for further investigation into why the AVE was not halted despite the visible danger. He also mentioned that the LZB system has experienced failures before, but it is considered robust and is used widely in other countries. The transition to the new ERTMS system is underway, with expectations for it to be operational by early 2027.