Copper-wire thefts impact Denver's light-rail service

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

RTD reported five instances of copper wire stolen along light-rail alignments over the last week alone. Most of the theft has occurred along the R Line, which runs between Peoria Station in Aurora and Lincoln Station in Lone Tree, RTD officials said yesterday in a press release.

Each incident has resulted in significant impacts to service, including train delays, crossing arms staying active in the down position, and the need for bus shuttles. RTD is also investigating multiple cases of thieves targeting copper wire along the A and G commuter-rail lines.

A wire theft yesterday along the A Line resulted in a signal issues and the need for bus shuttles between Denver Union Station and Central Park Station, RTD officials said.

RTD’s copper wires connect to a low-voltage system that powers signals at rail crossings, as well as high-voltage circuits that energize trains through the overhead wires. Most of the recent thefts have happened overnight, and the thieves are striking at different locations across the system’s 120 miles of track.

Copper-wire thefts also disrupted RTD rail service in 2022. Following a spike in copper-wire thefts at that time, RTD implemented additional methods to discourage would-be thieves.

The agency started embedding the copper wire in railroad ties, installing wooden covers, and greasing the wires to make them less valuable. RTD has also piloted adding tracking devices to copper wire coils across the system.

The demand for copper has created a market for thieves to target critical infrastructure across the world. In the United States and Canada, multiple 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 that they may observe on or near the system’s tracks. The agency also warns thieves and would-be culprits that trespassing on RTD’s tracks is dangerous and deadly.