Enhanced coordination to protect railway infrastructure

The Mossos d'Esquadra and Adif are strengthening their joint efforts to combat a surge in copper cable thefts across Catalonia’s Rodalies commuter rail network. Following a coordination meeting this Wednesday, both agencies confirmed plans to improve surveillance and physical barriers at key locations, aiming to reduce disruptions caused by repeated looting of vital electrical components. Copper theft has emerged as the leading cause of service incidents on Rodalies trains, with 35 reported thefts in September alone resulting in 15,000 minutes, equivalent to 250 hours, of delays, according to statements made by the Secretary of State for Transport and the Generalitat's Minister for Territory after visiting Adif’s control centre at Estació de França on 2 October.

New preventive measures agreed

As part of the reinforced strategy under the ongoing Pla Via, authorities will install additional surveillance cameras at high-risk sites and erect new security fencing along vulnerable stretches of track. Adif has already awarded a €2.7 million contract for new enclosures on the Maresme line, as confirmed on its official website. Direct communication channels between the Mossos d'Esquadra, Adif, and other police forces will also be established to speed up response times when theft attempts occur. These operational improvements aim to deter offenders and allow faster intervention by patrols.

Arrests and judicial actions mounting

Since the launch of Pla Via in early August, law enforcement has intensified operations. From July onward, the Mossos have carried out 36 arrests related to copper theft, with six individuals formally investigated and two placed under provisional detention. Three judicial orders preventing suspects from approaching railway infrastructure have also been issued. According to data cited by CatalunyaPress.es and confirmed by police sources, 66 people have been arrested so far in 2026 for stealing cables, with 31 arrests occurring between 1 August and mid-September, a significant acceleration in enforcement.

The plan is not just about policing but building legal cases that lead to strong court-imposed restrictions on repeat offenders.

Restraining orders are now a central tool, designed to prevent recidivism by legally barring those involved from accessing sensitive rail zones.

Critical areas identified

Particular focus is being placed on Estació de França in central Barcelona and construction zones such as the Parets del Vallès–La Garriga and Montcada–Parets sections, where work is currently underway and infrastructure remains exposed. Since the start of the year, 320 incidents, including thefts from active lines, building sites, and storage warehouses, have been recorded. Adif has allocated approximately €20 million to replace around 70 km of stolen cabling on affected routes. This investment underscores the financial and operational toll of persistent thefts on public transport services. Commuters using Rodalies lines should expect continued monitoring and potential short-term disruptions during upgrade works. No specific timeline for full implementation has been announced, but officials stress that current measures are already yielding results through increased arrests and faster incident resolution.

Primary sources: mossos.gencat.cat, Generalitat Press Room (Sala de Premsa), Mossos d'Esquadra. Reported by beteve.cat, Europa Press, CatalunyaPress.es, elperiodico.com, en.ara.cat, adif.es, betevé.