News
Thousands of travellers affected by the R3 closure after a copper theft
The Rodalies network is having a difficult day after a copper theft left the R3 line without rail service between La Garriga and Ripoll. The incident affects thousands of travellers who this Saturday have been forced to change their plans and seek alternatives.
To maintain mobility, a special arrangement has been activated. Between L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Montcada i Reixac, R4 trains take over part of the usual route. From there, journeys are covered by bus to Ripoll, with road connections also available to Puigcerdà and La Tour de Querol.
Adif technicians have been working since early morning to replace the stolen cabling and restore services as soon as possible. The speed of the intervention will be key to reducing the impact on a line essential for daily journeys and weekend getaways.
The day is further complicated by other incidents. The R1 line has suffered occasional interruptions due to a fire near the tracks, now resolved, and several lines are maintaining alternative services because of works and operational adjustments. The result is a strained system that forces journeys to be reorganised at different points on the network.
The R3, which connects Barcelona with the Catalan Pyrenees, is one of the most used routes by both workers and hikers, which magnifies the impact of this kind of incident.
When key lines are disrupted, the effect quickly spreads across the whole network: more people on buses, accumulated delays and more overcrowded stations. This can lengthen usual journeys and change the way people get around throughout the day, even in areas far from the incident. It also highlights the system’s fragility in the face of theft or breakdowns, something that may be repeated unless security and maintenance are reinforced.