Increased Surveillance to Combat Rail Sabotage
The Mossos d'Esquadra will deploy officers to conduct enhanced patrols at Estació de França and its surrounding areas starting tonight, in response to a recent spate of copper cable thefts affecting Rodalies de Catalunya services. The operation, coordinated with Adif's private security teams, targets critical infrastructure points between Estació de França and Plaça de les Glòries, particularly the open-air tracks and the exposed section between the station canopy and the tunnel entrance to Glòries.
Wednesday Theft Disrupted R2 Sud Line
A new theft occurred on Wednesday, 16 September, damaging signalling cables and disrupting train operations on the R2 Sud and Regionales Sud lines. According to reports from 20 Minutos Barcelona, only two trains per hour were running in each direction on the R2 Sud line following the incident. The sabotage has prompted the Generalitat Police to open a formal investigation into the string of thefts, which have occurred within a short timeframe and are causing repeated service interruptions in central Barcelona.
The preventive operation is indefinite and has no scheduled end date, as authorities aim to prevent further damage to rail infrastructure.
No Set End Date for Security Operation
Authorities have confirmed that the joint Mossos-Adif operation will remain in place until further notice. The focus remains on deterring further acts of vandalism and protecting vulnerable sections of the rail network serving one of the city’s key transport hubs. Commuters using the R2 Sud and Regionales Sud lines are advised to monitor updates via the Rodalies de Catalunya service portal for real-time service changes.
Reported by metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, 20 Minutos Barcelona, Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life.
