Martín, the technician turned by Puente into a 'scapegoat' and uncovered by pro-government audios

The identity of the train controller who ordered the resumption of normal speed after a signal failure has been revealed as Martin, according to audio recordings released by media outlets affiliated with the Prisa Group. These tapes emerged hours after Transport Minister Oscar Puente placed responsibility for the fatal collision at Urda, Toledo, on the operators of the Atocha Control Center. The incident resulted in at least 69 deaths. The release of the recordings coincided with the judge at the Orgaz court imposing secrecy on the ongoing investigation. The tragedy unfolded following a breakdown in the LZB signaling system. At 08:36, Martin issued an order via radio to the driver of AVE train 2080. He instructed the driver to disconnect and reconnect the LZB system and resume travel at normal speed. Martin signed off using his surname. Minutes later, at 08:41, he repeated this instruction to the Iryo 6076 train. The Iryo driver responded that the system could not be restarted and remained stopped. Between 08:48 and 08:53, the two trains collided. Prior to issuing the final command, Martin consulted with colleagues in the control room. Audio evidence shows he interrupted his conversation with the AVE driver seven times to discuss the procedure with other technicians. At least two other individuals were working alongside him during the shift. They coordinated regarding six trains halted in the affected section due to the system failure. One early exchange captured in the recordings features Martin asking a colleague to confirm the disconnection protocol before proceeding. Transport Minister Puente addressed the press on Tuesday at 14:50. His statement lasted 23 minutes, significantly shorter than the hour and 50 minutes he spent answering questions after the previous major rail accident at Adamuz, which claimed 46 lives. Following the Urda crash, Puente stated he had reviewed audio documentation of communications between the control center and the trains. He emphasized that the decision to resume movement was made by the center through its staff under inexplicable circumstances. He noted that the specific employee had already been interviewed by police. Puente argued that the operators had sufficient time to detect errors but failed to resolve them. This narrative shifted focus away from potential systemic failures prior to the crash. Instead, it highlighted the actions of a specific employee. The Guardian Civil interrogated the identified controller along with all members of the Atocha control shift on the day of the accident. The timing of the audio release drew scrutiny. It occurred shortly after the minister’s public remarks, providing corroboration for his account while diverting attention from broader institutional issues. The revelation did not introduce new technical data but confirmed the identity of the person giving the critical order. Legal experts noted that similar high-profile leaks have previously led to legal repercussions for officials involved in unauthorized disclosures. The current case remains under active judicial review with proceedings sealed.