Repairs After Summer Copper Thefts to Take Until 2027
Adif has confirmed that normal operations on the R14 commuter rail line between Tarragona and Lleida will not resume until early 2027, following severe damage caused by two separate copper thefts in June and July 2026. The infrastructure damage, particularly at Vinaixa and Montblanc, has been described as "complex" and is expected to cost approximately €14 million to repair. The first incident occurred on 22 June between Montblanc and l'Espluga de Francolí, when thieves removed an electrification cable, triggering a fire that spread through signalling and traffic regulation systems. This rendered communication equipment, interlocking systems and field components between Montblanc and Vilaverd inoperable.
Second Theft Caused Further Fire Damage
A second theft took place on the night of 20 July between Les Borges Blanques and the Milans River. Thieves cut the overhead catenary, causing a cable to fall and contact safety installations, resulting in an overload and fire. The blaze damaged communication, control, command and signalling infrastructure across the section. Adif has launched an extraordinary works programme to replace interlocking systems at Vinaixa, Canal d'Urgell and Montblanc. The current phase involves installing new traffic management and regulation systems, as well as restoring the full network of signalling cabling and safety installations.
Service Disruption Affects Multiple Towns
The affected sections include the stretch between Les Borges Blanques and l'Espluga de Francolí, and from there to Montblanc and Vilaverd, key links in the Lleida–Barcelona corridor via Valls and Reus. Since the incidents, no regular train services have operated on these segments. Passenger services have been significantly impacted, with towns including Valls, Montblanc and l'Espluga de Francolí losing vital rail connections for daily commutes. According to a recent report by apdnoticies.com, Valls already faces nearly seven hours without commercial train service each day due to daytime maintenance windows on the R-13 line, further limiting regional connectivity.
The repair work is complex and involves full replacement of severely damaged installations.
Adif's current schedule indicates that the critical phase of repairs will last approximately three months, with full restoration of services anticipated at the beginning of 2027. In the meantime, alternative transport arrangements remain in place, though no long-term replacement routes have been announced.
Future Rail Plans Unaffected
Despite the delays, regional rail development continues. Adif has recently launched the construction process for the new Reus-Bellissens station, a €11.5 million project aimed at improving local multimodality and integration with the Camp de Tarragona Rodalies network, as part of the broader Transformem Rodalies plan. The Generalitat's July 2026 Pla de Serveis Ferroviaris de Catalunya still targets an hourly service on the R-13 and R-14 lines by 2035, with two additional trains expected in early 2027 when Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat takes over operations between Lleida and Terrassa.
Reported by elcaso.elnacional.cat, apdnoticies.com, adif.es, Ràdio Ciutat de Tarragona.
