The Generalitat takes legal measures for copper thefts in the Rodalies service
The Department of Territory has recently approved a resolution that allows the Generalitat to intervene in cases of copper theft that affect the Rodalies service. This action is carried out in defense of the interests of the Government as head of the service and of the citizens. The Generalitat will act as an accusation and will carry out criminal and civil action in relation to the copper theft that took place on May 12 at the Montcada Bifurcación station (Vallès Occidental), coinciding with the elections. This theft has continued to affect the transportation network. The proceedings in this case are ongoing in the investigative courts numbers 3 and 5 of Mollet del Vallès (Vallès Oriental).
Reinforcement of interurban public transport
In parallel, the Departament de Territori is strengthening interurban bus lines due to the increase in demand since the May 12 incident. For example, the Exprés.cat e12 Vic-Barcelona has experienced a 56% increase in daily trips compared to May 2023. Likewise, the Exprés.cat e1 Sabadell-Barcelona registered a 49% increase in daily trips in compared to the previous year, and 24% more compared to April. Regarding Exprés.cat e2.1 Terrassa-Barcelona, daily trips increased by 44% compared to the same period in 2023 and 19% compared to April. In addition, the A1 Sabadell-Barcelona has accumulated an average of 5,695 daily trips, 38% more than in May 2023 and 33% more than last month. In the case of the A2 Badia-Barcelona, daily trips have been 2,181, 18% more than the same month of the previous year and 16% more than in April.
Impact on FGC
The FGC stations of Sabadell, Terrassa, Martorell and Manresa have also experienced an increase of 22,947 trips compared to the weeks before the copper theft in Montcada Bifurcación. Of these, 20,381 correspond to trips registered at Sabadell stations. The Vallesan city has detected an increase of 672 trips on weekdays, 1,015 on Saturdays and 1,312 on holidays.
Arrest of those responsible for the robbery
On 24 May, the Mossos d’Esquadra identified and arrested those responsible for the theft of copper cable that caused chaos in Rodalies on 12 May. The thieves, specialists in this type of theft, were arrested thanks to the actions of the Ferrocarrils security guards, who caught them red-handed while committing the crime. After their arrest, they were linked to other robberies, including the one in Montcada during the elections.
