Cable theft disrupts R3 Rodalies rail line 

The R3 Rodalies rail line faced disruptions on Monday morning between Parets and Les Franqueses del Vallès due to the theft of copper cable. 

Technicians from public rail infrastructure company Adif are working to repair the damage. 

Operator Renfe has put on replacement buses on the 12km stretch between Parets and Les Franqueses, which includes the city of Granollers, north of Barcelona. 

Trains are running as normal on the rest of the R3 line, between Puigcerdà in the Pyrenees and Les Franqueses, and also between Parets and L'Hospitalet, in the metropolitan area. 

Separately, on the R2 Nord line, a fault between El Prat and Barcelona Airport was repaired on Monday, after it caused cancelations early in the morning. Passengers traveling to and from the airport were advised to take the metro.  

Transfer of Rodlies powers

The political commission that will oversee the transfer of powers over the Rodalies commuter railway from Spain to Catalonia is to be set up this month.   

Spain's Socialists and pro-independence Esquerra Republicana (ERC) reached an agreement on the issue in November.  

Handing over management of Rodalies has been a long-standing demand for pro-independence parties, and Esquerra included it as one of their requirements in the post-electoral negotiations to re-elect Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez as Prime Minister.