Rail News – Copper wire thefts impact Denver’s light rail service. For rail career professionals

Multiple incidents of copper wire theft near signals, switches and level crossings are impacting the Regional Transportation District-Denver’s (RTD) light rail service, the agency announced yesterday.

RTD reported five cases of stolen copper wire along light rail lines in the past week alone. Most of the thefts occurred along the R Line, which runs between Peoria Station in Aurora and Lincoln Station in Lone Tree, RTD officials said in a news release yesterday.

Each incident has resulted in significant service impacts, including train delays, active crossarms remaining in the down position, and the need for shuttle buses. RTD is also investigating multiple incidents of thieves targeting copper wire along the A and G commuter rail lines.

A cable was stolen along the A Line yesterday, causing signal issues and causing buses to run between Denver Union Station and Central Park Station, RTD officials said.

RTD’s copper wires are connected to a low-voltage system that powers signals at railroad crossings and to high-voltage circuits that power trains via overhead wires. Most of the recent thefts have occurred at night, with thieves targeting multiple locations along the system’s 120-mile (193-kilometer) track.

In 2022, RTD’s train service was also disrupted by copper wire thefts. Following a spike in copper wire thefts at the time, RTD implemented additional methods to discourage potential thieves.

The agency began by embedding copper wire in sleepers, installing wooden covers and greasing the wires to make them less valuable. RTD also piloted adding tracking devices to copper wire spools throughout the system.

The demand for copper has created a market for thieves targeting critical infrastructure around the world. In the United States and Canada, several transit agencies have recently reported an increase in copper wire thefts, RTD officials said.

RTD is asking customers and the public to report any suspicious behavior they observe on or near the system’s tracks. The agency is also warning thieves and potential offenders that trespassing on RTD’s tracks is dangerous and deadly.