The R3 Rodalies line has been suspended this Thursday due to a copper theft that has damaged the signalling systems. A bus service has been established between Fabra i Puig and Puigcerdà.
The R3 Rodalies line has been completely suspended this Thursday, July 25, 2026, due to a new copper theft that has affected the signalling systems, as confirmed by Adif. The incident, which occurred during the early hours, has led to the cancellation of all trains since the early morning, affecting thousands of users commuting between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Puigcerdà, passing through stations such as Barcelona-Sants, Plaça Catalunya, Arc de Triomf, Sagrera-Meridiana, Fabra i Puig, Montcada Bifurcació, Mollet-Santa Rosa, Granollers-Canovelles, Vic, and Ripoll.
To mitigate the effects of the disruption, Rodalies has implemented an alternative road transport plan. A bus service has been organised covering the stretch between Fabra i Puig (Barcelona) and Puigcerdà, with stops at the main intermediate stations. Additionally, for journeys between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Barcelona, it is recommended to use line R4, the metro (L1, L5), or the FGC services, which are operating normally. Travel times on the affected stretch are doubled, with transfers adding between 30 and 45 minutes to the journey.
Adif staff are already working on replacing the stolen cable, although no time has been set for the restoration of service. The company expects the disruption to last throughout the day on Thursday. "The incident affects the signalling systems," Adif detailed in a message on X. The most optimistic forecast points to a restoration of service by late afternoon, although it is not ruled out that the disruption could extend until Friday if the damage is greater than expected.
The spokesperson for the Government and Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, has described this new theft as "intolerable" and has announced that the Catalan executive will toughen penalties for these crimes. "The actions of the Mossos d'Esquadra are decisive, but we need tougher legal tools," she stated. Catalonia accounts for half of all cable thefts in Spain, according to Adif data, and the R3 line is one of the most affected by this scourge, which has already seen dozens of incidents this year.
This is not the first time the R3 has been affected by a copper theft. In the last twelve months, the line has suffered at least four total suspensions for the same reason. The impact on regular travellers — workers commuting daily between Vallès and Barcelona, students, and tourists heading to Cerdanya — is increasingly significant. Despite the efforts of the Mossos, who have dismantled several networks dedicated to the illegal sale of metal, the phenomenon persists due to the high profitability of copper in the black market and the lack of traceability in scrap yards.
The government of Salvador Illa has prioritised the fight against this type of vandalism as a key issue of the legislature, with a reform of the Penal Code that would allow for increased penalties and criminal liability for intermediaries. However, the processing in the Parliament is expected to extend until late 2026 or early 2027, leaving users exposed to further interruptions. Meanwhile, the alternative bus plan is consolidating as a recurring emergency solution, but not a definitive one.
For travellers from L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, the main impact is the inability to access the R3 directly from the L'Hospitalet station. As an alternative, it is recommended to use line R4 to reach Barcelona and then transfer to buses or the metro. Users heading to destinations such as Vic or Puigcerdà will need to add at least 45 additional minutes to their journey. Rodalies will keep the bus plan active until further notice, and it is recommended to check updated schedules on their website and social media.
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