Railway vandalism has cost Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) almost €6 million in cleaning operations since 2020, despite a notable drop in graffiti thanks to the anti-graffiti plan introduced in 2021.
The affected surface area has fallen from 50,804 square metres in 2020 to 9,695 in 2025—a reduction of 80%. The number of affected trains has also declined steadily: from 737 vandalised trains in 2020 down to 220 this year, following a spike in 2024 when 358 trains were tagged.
Such incidents have a direct impact on service, as trains with graffiti cannot operate. Cumulative service disruptions reached 6 hours in 2024 and have now been reduced to 3 hours and 20 minutes in 2025.
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The anti-graffiti plan, developed in partnership with the Mossos d’Esquadra (regional police), has included installing more CCTV cameras, increasing security, restricting access points, and installing protective panels on parked trains.
According to TMB president Laia Bonet, vandalism “remains a serious problem,” and it is essential to “continue responding to criminal behaviour that causes unacceptable economic and social damage.” New fines of up to €90,000 for railway vandalism will also be applied to Barcelona’s metro.