News
Cable theft reduces the R1 to two trains per hour between L’Hospitalet and Maçanet
This Friday afternoon has become difficult for R1 Rodalies users. A cable theft between Badalona and the La Sagrera junction has forced services to be reduced to approximately two trains per hour in each direction between L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Maçanet-Massanes.
The incident was detected at around 14:40 and affects a particularly sensitive point on the line, just before trains enter Barcelona from the northern coast. The reduced capacity is causing longer waits and delays that may build up throughout the afternoon.
Adif has sent technical teams to the area to repair the damage and restore the infrastructure’s normal operation. For the moment, no specific time has been set for restoring all frequencies, so the recommendation remains to check the service status before starting the journey.
The reduction affects the entire corridor between L’Hospitalet and Maçanet-Massanes, although the greatest disruption is concentrated around the section where the theft occurred. For those using the R1 to return from work or travel between Barcelona, Badalona and the Maresme municipalities, the most visible consequence is much longer intervals between trains.
The incident also comes at a particularly delicate time. As the afternoon goes on, the number of passengers leaving Barcelona for Badalona, Mataró and other coastal municipalities increases, so a frequency of two trains an hour can quickly result in fuller platforms.
Rodalies is maintaining services, so this is not a total closure of the line. However, users should allow more journey time and expect possible timetable changes while repairs continue.
Cable theft is one of the incidents that most affects the regularity of the rail network because it can disable signalling, power supply or communication systems. Repairing it requires locating the damage, replacing the material and then checking that all systems operate safely before restoring the normal frequency.
The R1 is thus once again experiencing an afternoon shaped by an incident external to railway operations. Until the repair is complete, those who depend on the train between Barcelona and the Maresme will have to look at the timetable board more than once before going down to the platform.