There have been 152 copper cable thefts on Catalonia’s Rodalies network between January and June 2026, amounting to nearly one incident per day. The figure represents almost 40 per cent of all such thefts across Spain, according to data reported by La Vanguardia.

The number is significantly higher than previous years. The 152 thefts already surpass the combined total of 99 incidents recorded in 2020, 2021 and 2022. They also exceed the full-year figures for 2023 (151) and are rapidly approaching the 184 cases reported in 2025.

The R3 line, running from L’Hospitalet de Llobregat to Puigcerdà via Vic, has been the most affected, particularly in areas undergoing infrastructure upgrades like track doubling, where thieves often steal cables before they are even installed. Other heavily impacted lines include the R2, R2 Nord, R4, R8, R13 and R14.

The Vallès corridor, where R2 and related lines converge, accounts for 58 per cent of all copper thefts on Rodalies in 2026. Lines R4 and R8 alone are responsible for 73 per cent of service interruptions due to theft this year.

Each theft removes between 80 and 200 metres of insulated copper cable, and the average service restoration takes 4.7 hours, according to Adif reports. Each incident costs operators between €80,000 and €120,000 in operational and logistical expenses.

Recent incidents include a theft between Mollet-Sant Fost and Granollers Centre that completely halted R8 services and caused delays of over 30 minutes on R2, R2 Nord and R11. A second theft on the R4 line that same day caused delays of up to 36 minutes.

Earlier in June, a theft on the R3 line between Granollers and Ripoll caused major disruptions. Another occurred between La Garriga and Figaró on the same line, while a further incident between Montblanc and Vilaverd affected R13 and R14 services, increasing journey times by 10 minutes for two months.

These thefts are classified as sabotage under Article 380 of Spain’s Penal Code. Since 2024, the Catalan Public Heritage and Environmental Prosecutor’s Office has prioritised prosecution due to the impact on essential services.

The Catalan government has strengthened its anti-theft plan following recent incidents. Spokesperson Sílvia Paneque said the thefts go beyond material loss, directly affecting service continuity and passenger safety. Interior Minister Núria Parlon, the Mossos d’Esquadra and Adif have held coordination meetings to reinforce protection measures.

“It’s a situation that goes far beyond theft,” said Paneque, “when service is halted for hours and safety is compromised.”

Measures under consideration include installing perimeter fencing and surveillance cameras at five high-risk locations. Law 11/2023 on Railway Safety mandates Adif to deploy acoustic and thermal detection systems in vulnerable areas, but only 42 per cent of the planned rollout has been completed in Catalonia.

Causes and Broader Impact

The surge in thefts is linked to the rising market price of copper, driven by global geopolitical conditions. Stolen copper is typically sold on illegal markets for less than 30 per cent of its market value.

Barcelona province is the hardest hit, accounting for 105 of the 151 thefts recorded in Catalonia in 2023. Most thefts occur on conventional rail lines, as high-speed lines are fully fenced. The ease of access to Rodalies tracks makes them vulnerable.

According to the Generalitat, copper cable thefts in the region increased by 67 per cent year-on-year in 2025. These crimes are responsible for 40 per cent of service disruptions on Rodalies, with the remaining 60 per cent attributed to infrastructure degradation, vandalism, rock-throwing, graffiti and extreme weather.

Thousands of commuters are affected daily, with hundreds of trains delayed or cancelled each year. The Catalan government and rail operators are working to accelerate security upgrades to restore reliability and deter criminal activity.

Reported by admin, Àngels Piñol, Carlos Márquez Daniel, rac1.cat.