A new Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya train for Barcelona’s airport link has been vandalised in Mataró, just two days after it was delivered. The graffiti damage has delayed the operational tests needed before the service can start.
The train, built by Alstom, arrived at the Mataró facilities on 17 March. According to La Vanguardia, it was attacked overnight and covered in graffiti, with some of the protective vinyls also removed.
The vandals also sprayed sensitive areas, including the front glass. That means the train now needs to be checked and repaired before the planned testing programme can go ahead.
The airport rail link is intended to improve travel between Barcelona and its airport, and to reduce reliance on private cars for one of the city’s busiest access points. The delay affects a project that is closely watched by commuters and transport users across the city.
This is not the first time a new train has been targeted at the same site. Just over a year ago, another newly manufactured train for Rodalies services suffered a similar attack in Mataró, raising fresh questions about security around stored railway stock.
For more Barcelona transport coverage, see our Transport and Community pages. The original report was published by 20 Minutos.
