Renfe registered 6,568 incidents related to acts of vandalism in 2024, such as graffiti or glass breakage, which resulted in a direct cost of 11.2 million euros.
The majority of incidents were caused by graffiti (4,281), followed by other acts of vandalism (1,758) such as glass breakage (accounting for 26% of them) or the vandalization of security elements (9%).
In this regard, the railway company thanked the National Police for the arrest of 29 individuals this Saturday as alleged authors of 287 graffiti on trains, as well as the clarification of a total of 319 criminal acts linked to them: 187 damage crimes and 32 public disorder offenses.
This operation, the result of a thorough investigation initiated in September 2024, required significant coordination between various police units and Renfe security personnel at various locations nationwide. These arrests took place in Madrid (18), Málaga (4), Valencia (2), Barcelona (2), Alicante (1), Soria (1), and León (1).
"Renfe appreciates and acknowledges the efforts of the National Police, the Civil Guard, and the rest of the State Security Forces and Corps in the fight against vandalism in the railway sector, a scourge that generates serious economic and social harm," the company stated.
Furthermore, they claim that graffiti, stoning, and other forms of vandalism (glass breakage or manipulation of security objects, such as fire extinguishers and emergency hammers, for the most part) "not only incur a high economic cost but also compromise the safety of passengers and workers, cause delays, and reduce service quality."
LABOR COST
Every year, Renfe dedicates "thousands of work hours to graffiti cleaning." In total, Renfe has cleaned over 147,230 square meters (equivalent to more than 20 soccer fields) of graffiti on its trains across Spain during 2023 and 2024.
This effort represents an annual economic cost of around 24 million euros, including both direct and indirect expenses. This amount includes cleaning products, personnel, protective equipment, energy costs, waste management, and security measures to prevent these acts of vandalism from recurring.
According to the established cleaning hours standard, over 10,000 net hours per month are required for this purpose. In terms of environmental impact, Renfe estimates that graffiti artists use 16,000 liters of paint annually, composed of toxic substances like benzene and 1,3-butadiene, generating 40,000 paint cans as hazardous waste.
To minimize environmental impact, the company has developed specific cleaning protocols that prevent waste from reaching the ground. Absorbent blankets and a specialized environmental management system are used. Renfe reaffirms its commitment to safety and the promotion of a quality and sustainable public transportation system. Additionally, it will continue to collaborate with the State Security Forces and Corps to prevent these types of criminal behaviors.