A new incident, caused by a copper cable theft, has suspended the service on the R3 Rodalies line since early Saturday morning. The incident affects travellers between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Puigcerdà.
The R3 Rodalies line has been without service this Saturday due to a copper cable theft that has damaged the railway traffic regulation system. The infrastructure manager Adif has confirmed that the theft is the cause of the breakdown, which affects the entire route between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Puigcerdà.
The incident has occurred at a particularly delicate time for the Cercanías network, which is still recovering from the sinkhole in Montcada i Reixac and has accumulated months of unfulfilled promises for improvements. The R3, considered the line most affected by chronic incidents, is once again paralysed.
According to Renfe, train circulation is unsafe due to the damage to the control system. Although the theft was initially ruled out, Adif confirmed this morning that it is indeed a new cable theft in the corridor.
To minimise the impact on users, an alternative road transport plan has been established between the Fabra i Puig station in Barcelona and Puigcerdà. Passengers travelling from L'Hospitalet de Llobregat or the southern part of the line can use the R4 line to Barcelona and then connect with the coaches.
From the Servei Català de Trànsit, it is recommended to check the official Rodalies channels before travelling to know the status of the service and the available alternatives. There is no forecast for immediate restoration.
Meanwhile, the R2 Nord is moving towards normality. Adif has completed this afternoon the filling works of the sinkhole that appeared on Wednesday during the underground works in Montcada i Reixac. 365 cubic metres of concrete and 1,930 cubic metres of mortar have been poured to stabilise the ground.
According to the Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, circulation could resume "from next week", once Renfe completes the scheduled blank runs. The reopening of the R2 Nord would partially relieve the pressure on the network.
The copper cable theft adds to a long list of incidents that have affected the R3 in recent months. In October 2025, works began to double the track between Parets del Vallès and La Garriga, with a scheduled cut that was supposed to be reduced in May 2026. However, the Gelida accident on January 20 forced the suspension of service across the entire line to review slopes and tunnels.
The partial reopening between La Garriga and Ripoll on March 15 lasted barely eight hours: objects appeared on the track and it had to be stopped again. On July 6, the Ribes de Freser-Puigcerdà section operated for less than three hours before a tree fell on the catenary.
To these incidents is added the collapse, on March 6, of a wall from a cement factory in Montcada that blocked the train tracks. Adif and the owning company are in litigation over the responsibility for the incident, which has further delayed the works. The railway manager will take on the reconstruction of the wall, but the forecast for reopening the entire route will not arrive until January 2027.
This morning, a 66-year-old worker died from electrocution in Sant Mori (Girona) during maintenance work on the network. The incident, under investigation by the Mossos d’Esquadra, adds to the string of tragedies affecting the Catalan railway system.
Minister Paneque announced on Thursday that the Government will seek to toughen penalties for cable thefts, a crime that accounts for half of all thefts in the country in Catalonia. The measure aims to deter thieves and protect critical infrastructure.
For R3 users, the situation represents a new setback in their usual journeys. The lack of a reliable service generates discontent among travellers, who see how the promises of improvement are not fulfilled. The line, which connects L'Hospitalet with the Pyrenees, is vital for the mobility of thousands of people.
While awaiting the restoration of service, passengers are advised to plan their journeys in advance and check real-time updates through the Rodalies website or mobile app.
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