Service interruption due to vandalism
This Saturday morning, the train service on the Rodalies R4 line was severely disrupted between Vilafranca del Penedès and Castellbisbal due to an incident of vandalism. During the previous night, three trains were the target of an attack: they were completely sprayed with paint, covering not only the exterior, but also the doors and windows.
The event took place around Martorell and, as a result, several trains that were due to start their journey early in the morning had to be suspended. Renfe has announced that an alternative road service has been launched to mitigate the inconvenience to the affected passengers.
The financial impact of vandalism
The costs of these acts of vandalism are alarming. In 2023, graffiti-related vandalism generated losses amounting to 11.6 million euros in Catalonia, which translates into a daily impact of approximately 32,000 euros. As if that were not enough, Catalonia accounts for half of the incidents of vandalism that occurred in the country over the last year.
The increase in the frequency of vandalism
The situation is even more worrying when one considers that there were 2,340 incidents of graffiti on railway facilities, which represents more than six acts of vandalism per day. This phenomenon not only involves cleaning costs, but also significant investments in security, including personnel and surveillance systems.
Consequences for users
Passengers are the ones who suffer the direct impact of these destructive acts. Service disruptions cause delays, train cancellations and visibility problems due to graffiti, which can lead to emergency situations during the journey.
Graffiti removal has taken considerable time, with a total of 7,500 hours of operation interrupted last year. Renfe also warned that the presence of vandals often leads to stricter security measures.
Safety and prevention measures
In response to this growing problem, Renfe has stepped up surveillance. Over the past year, the intervention of security personnel managed to prevent multiple incidents, stopping up to 492 attempts at vandalism. This shows the importance of maintaining a presence in public spaces to deter future attacks and protect railway assets.
The company continues to work hard to provide quality service, hoping that the collective commitment to preserving public transport will help reduce these incidents in the future.
