Rodalies graffiti crackdown is intensifying as the public rail operator targets a future where none of its trains carry unauthorised paint.
This ambitious goal follows a year where nearly 900 graffiti attacks were recorded across its Catalan facilities, equating to roughly three incursions every single day.
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However, officials point to a significant 25% reduction in incidents compared to 2024, crediting enhanced security measures for the progress.
According to a recent report on local security technology, the deployment of additional agents, drones, and canine units is beginning to yield results. Furthermore, the company’s spokesperson, Antonio Carmona, has outlined a vision to implement a ‘zero graffiti’ policy across the entire Rodalies fleet. This would mirror the standards already achieved by Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC).
Rodalies Graffiti Crackdown Faces Uphill Battle
Admitting the scale of the challenge, Carmona noted that finding an untouched train is currently the exception, not the rule. Consequently, only trains where paint obstructs the driver’s cab or poses a safety risk are immediately withdrawn from service. All others continue running to maintain schedules, meaning passengers regularly travel on graffitied carriages. The social cost is substantial, affecting an estimated 1.4 million passengers through service cancellations, delays, and capacity reductions.
The director general of Transport and Mobility for the Generalitat, Susi López, has reinforced a message of ‘zero tolerance’. She emphasises that the financial burden is immense, with nearly €7 million spent annually on graffiti removal alone. Additionally, a further €20 million is allocated for security across Rodalies installations. Therefore, the push for cleaner trains is both an aesthetic and a fiscal priority.
Cleaning operations are specialised and costly. They take place at facilities in l’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Vilanova i la Geltrú, using aggressive chemical systems. To aid this process, trains are pre-treated with an anti-graffiti lacquer, making paint easier to remove when attacks occur. Meanwhile, a parliamentary proposal to increase fines for caught graffiti artists to up to €90,000 is still under discussion, potentially adding another deterrent.
Beyond cleaning, a meticulous renovation process occurs every four years. During this procedure, trains are sanded, filled, and finally re-vinylied with official logos and signage. Each full exterior refurbishment costs around €22,000—a significant sum, yet far less than the ongoing removal expenses. As Carmona starkly put it, the official Rodalies vinyl should be “the only graffiti” seen on its 272 trains circulating throughout Catalonia.
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