Key data
| Regulation | Law 7/2026, of June 4, amending Law 4/2006 on railways in Catalonia |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | July 18, 2026 |
| Effective date | June 6, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Offenders in railway infrastructure, minors, parents/guardians and railway operators in Catalonia |
| Category | Regulatory Changes |
| Modified regulation | Law 4/2006, railways in Catalonia |
| Annual graffiti cost in Catalonia | 11.6 million euros |
Making graffiti on a Rodalies train or at a station is no longer a minor offense. As of June 6, 2026, Law 7/2026 modifies the penalty regime of the Catalan railway law 4/2006 and establishes a significantly stricter framework of sanctions against conduct that damages or defaces the Catalan railway network.
The regulation stems from a specific economic problem: 11.6 million euros annually in graffiti cleaning costs in Catalonia alone. The legislator responds by toughening fines, expanding the types of offenses and extending liability to the parents of minors involved.
What does this regulation establish?
Law 7/2026 introduces specific changes to the Catalan railway law 4/2006 in three main areas:
1. New classification of serious offense
Graffiti on trains or railway infrastructure is expressly classified as a serious offense when it affects service. Until now, this conduct was not explicitly included in the catalog of serious offenses in the Catalan railway law.
2. Penalty scale
| Degree of offense | Fine | Typical conduct |
|---|---|---|
| Serious offense | €18,001 – €90,000 | Graffiti on trains or infrastructure that affects service |
| Very serious offense | Up to €900,000 | Conduct that aggravates damage or impact on railway service |
3. Extended protection of rolling stock
The regulation extends protection to existing offense types to expressly include rolling stock (the trains themselves), not just fixed infrastructure such as tracks, platforms or stations.
4. Joint liability of parents and guardians
Parents or guardians are jointly liable for offenses committed by minors. However, the regulation prioritizes the application of educational or restorative measures over direct economic sanctions when the offender is a minor.
5. Safety measures in high-risk facilities
The railway authority may impose specific safety measures in facilities where risks have been identified, including the hiring of private security.
Economic and operational impact
The most direct impact of this regulation is deterrent: the toughening of sanctions seeks to reduce the 11.6 million euros annually that Catalonia spends cleaning graffiti on its railway network. This cost falls mainly on operating companies and the administration.
For railway operators, the regulation opens the door to recovering part of these costs through sanctions against offenders, and allows them to request the railway authority to implement additional security measures—including private security—in facilities with a history of vandalism.
For families with minors, joint liability means that graffiti made by a minor child can result in a fine of between €18,001 and €90,000 that falls on the parents, unless educational or restorative measures are applied as an alternative.
Who does it affect?
- People who make graffiti on trains, stations or any infrastructure of the Catalan railway network (Rodalies and autonomous network).
- Minor offenders who commit these acts in the Catalan railway sector.
- Parents and legal guardians of minors who incur these offenses: they are jointly liable for the economic sanction.
- Railway operating companies in Catalonia: can request additional security measures and benefit from the greater deterrent power of sanctions.
- Private security companies: the regulation expressly enables the hiring of private security in high-risk facilities.
- Catalan railway authority: acquires new powers to impose specific safety measures.
Practical example
A 16-year-old minor makes graffiti on the exterior of a Rodalies train car at a Barcelona station. The conduct affects service because the train must be removed from circulation for cleaning.
Under Law 7/2026, the conduct is classified as a serious offense, with a fine of between €18,001 and €90,000. Since the offender is a minor, the railway authority will first consider the application of educational or restorative measures. If these are not considered sufficient or the minor reoffends, the economic sanction falls jointly on the parents or guardians, who must pay the full amount of the fine.
If the same conduct is classified as very serious—for example, due to causing a serious service interruption or reoffending—the fine can reach €900,000.
What should companies do now?
- Railway operators: review internal protocols for detecting and reporting vandalism to activate the new penalty regime effectively from June 6, 2026.
- Operators with high-risk facilities: request the railway authority to impose specific safety measures—including private security—at stations or depots with a history of vandalism.
- Private security companies: identify business opportunities in the Catalan railway sector, given that the regulation expressly enables their hiring in high-risk facilities.
- Legal and compliance departments: update ongoing penalty proceedings to apply the new offense types and fine ranges established by Law 7/2026.
- Families and educational centers: note the joint liability of parents and guardians, especially in environments with minors with a history of uncivil conduct in public transport.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the fine for making graffiti on a Rodalies train in 2026?
Law 7/2026 establishes a fine of between €18,001 and €90,000 if the conduct is classified as a serious offense. If considered very serious, the sanction can reach €900,000. The classification depends on the impact on railway service.
Are parents liable if their minor child makes graffiti on the metro or Rodalies?
Yes. Law 7/2026 establishes joint liability of parents or guardians for offenses committed by minors. However, the regulation prioritizes the application of educational or restorative measures before imposing the economic sanction.
When did the new law on sanctions for graffiti on Catalan trains come into force?
Law 7/2026 came into force on June 6, 2026, although its publication in the BOE occurred on July 18, 2026. It amends the Catalan railway law 4/2006.
What infrastructure does the new penalty regulation cover?
The regulation covers both fixed railway infrastructure (tracks, stations, platforms, facilities) and rolling stock (the trains themselves). The extension to rolling stock is one of the express innovations of Law 7/2026 compared to the previous law.
Can the railway authority require private security to be hired at stations?
Yes. Law 7/2026 enables the Catalan railway authority to impose specific safety measures in facilities with identified risks, expressly including the hiring of private security.
Official source
View complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-15681)
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-15681