A new incidence on the Catalan railway network
A recent theft of copper cable has affected the Catalan railway network, causing traffic problems on several lines. This incident comes shortly after another robbery that took place on May 12 in Rodalies. According to Adif, the railway infrastructure management company, the theft has affected the railway line between Lleida and Barcelona, specifically between Riu Milans and les Borges Blanques, affecting the R13 and R14 services. Traffic was interrupted, but resumed at 8:30 a.m. this Tuesday.
Affects and reestablishment of the service
As a result of this theft, several Rodalies lines have been affected. The R1 line will return to normal operation as far as L’Hospitalet from this Tuesday. The R4 Nord will recover the connection with Barcelona, with a frequency of two trains per hour in each direction between Hospitalet and Manresa. The R4 South will have four trains per hour in each direction between Hospitalet and Sant Vicenç de Calders. As for R3, the most affected line, Renfe will try to strengthen the alternative bus service, since trains will only operate between Puigcerdà and Ripollet. Although part of the affected lines will be restored, the reinforcement of alternative transport will continue, with the use of buses and railway lines (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/ ).
Interruption of traffic on other lines
In addition to the theft of copper cable, traffic has been disrupted on lines R14, R15 and RT1 due to an accident between a freight train and a vehicle. This incident has been reported by Civil Protection through social networks. Some lines, like R7, are out of service, while others, like R8, are working normally (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
Statements by the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility
The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, has issued statements about this situation. Puente has stated that he does not want to assess whether the Mossos d’Esquadra are doing their job well, but he has emphasized that the responsibility for the matter does not lie with the Catalan police, but with Renfe and Adif. The minister has emphasized that this situation will not be resolved with the transfer of Rodalies and has affirmed that acts of vandalism are the responsibility of the police. In addition, he has reported that the repair of the damage caused by the theft of copper will cost about 15 million euros and will require about two months of work. Puente has highlighted that, in the last five years, there have been nearly three acts of vandalism a day on the Renfe Commuters network in Catalonia. The minister has remarked that the perpetrators of these acts risk their lives to steal material of little value on the black market (https://www.softcatala.org/resum-de-textos-en-catala/).
