The meeting served to conduct an initial assessment of the 'Pla Via' since its launch in August, analyze results, and identify areas for joint work. Both institutions agreed on the need to strengthen communication mechanisms and promote preventive, security, and operational actions.
Adif highlighted that copper cable thefts are the primary cause of disruptions to the Rodalies (commuter rail) service, having significantly worsened in recent years and negatively impacting service quality and strategic infrastructure development.
Since the plan's inception last July, 36 arrests have been made, 6 individuals are under investigation, with 2 provisional prison sentences and 3 judicial orders for exclusion from railway infrastructure. Seven administrative infraction reports have also been processed.
The 'Pla Via' aims to address the sustained increase in copper thefts, which cause economic losses and severe disruptions to railway services, impacting the daily lives of train users. The priority objective is to protect critical infrastructure and ensure service continuity.
To reduce vulnerabilities, efforts are focused on protection, control, and surveillance measures, such as installing security cameras in sensitive areas and implementing new fencing to hinder access to tracks. In the metropolitan area of Barcelona, sensitive points have been identified at Barcelona-França station and in the works for the Parets del Vallès-La Garriga section, where approximately 20 million euros have been allocated to replace about 70 km of stolen cable.
Between June and September, 192 incidents were recorded in Catalonia. Since the beginning of the year, 320 incidents have been reported, including thefts on construction sections and in Adif warehouses.
There is a push to enhance direct communication channels between the Mossos d’Esquadra and Adif to immediately report any theft, facilitating rapid police activation and reducing response times.
Furthermore, situations facilitating unauthorized access to the network have been analyzed, with technical reports being prepared for correction through private protection, control, and surveillance measures, complementing police action.
Concurrently, a workshop was held in Sabadell with 120 waste management companies to present the 'Pla Via' and request their involvement, as perpetrators of railway thefts often sell the stolen material through these establishments. Police presence will be increased, and collaboration will be sought to detect irregularities.
