#Seriouslyadventurous - 27 June 2023
Power up on the EOLE project, a major project for sustainable mobility in the Paris region: TSO and EIFFAGE Rail announces the commissioning of the rail systems
After almost 4 years of work, the energising of the catenary system by SNCF Réseau marks the end of the work on the rail systems package carried out by the TSO (lead contractor), EIFFAGE Rail, TSO Caténaires and Sages Rail consortium.
Since June 2019, 28 km of track have been laid by the consortium between the stations of Haussmann-Saint-Lazare in the centre of Paris and Nanterre-La-Folie near the main business district. This work is part of the extension of the RER E line to the west of Paris, a sustainable mobility solution that will benefit more than 650,000 passengers every day.
The TSO, EIFFAGE Rail, TSO Caténaires and Sages Rail consortium has completed the construction of the rail equipment. The scope of work includes two distinct parts: outdoor works near the Nanterre station which include 12km of ballasted track and 10 km of catenary, and the laying of 16 km of concrete track and rigid catenary in the tunnel connecting Nanterre-La-Folie and Haussmann-Saint-Lazare stations. In addition, the project also included tunnel equipment such as cable trays, evacuation walkways, dry columns, civil engineering for signalling systems, pedestrian walkways, unwinding of the main cables, and rail safety services during the works phase.
A contract to promote professional integration
This rail systems package has also been a catalyst for professional integration, with more than 100,000 hours of integration work carried out. The consortium also recruited 100 employees, thanks to three POEC (Préparation Opérationnelle à L’Emploi Collective) training programmes run by the NGE Group’s PlateForme training centre. Nearly all overhead linesman and track layers positions were made permanent on the line 16 of the Grand Paris Express, for which the consortium also won the rail systems.
An emblematic and innovative project in the construction of the Grand Paris
The consortium has led to the introduction of a number of equipment innovations to facilitate the efforts and safety of workers, such as the deployment of 100% electric motorised lorries that can move 1600 kg effortlessly and safely, or the use of a 0-gravity arm and a drilling jig that reduce vibrations and dust and provide a better working posture for the installation of rigid catenary stanchions.
The market is also seeing productivity-enhancing innovations, with the mechanisation of certain tasks through the adaptation of reconditioned Multi-Service Vehicles (MSVs), making it possible to increase the rate at which overhead contact profiles are laid or cables unwound.
The commissioning of this project is a fine demonstration of the expertise of our teams, who have been able to operate in very dense areas such as Porte Maillot station, and of the success of the collaboration with our partner Eiffage. This success confirms the NGE Group’s ability to deliver infrastructure serving sustainable mobility
Christophe VIALLE,
TSO Project Director
The energisation of the catenary system marks the end of work on the railway systems package for the EOLE project: a major milestone for Eiffage Rail, which is involved in a number of major urban projects in Paris. This operation was a success, thanks to the successful coordination with our partner NGE and the relationship of trust with our customer SNCF Réseau.
Nicolas AUBERT,
Head of Major Urban and Greater Paris Projects, Eiffage Rail
Rail systems package:
- 28 km of double track of which 12 km of ballasted track and 16 km of concrete track
- An outdoor and a tunnel section
- 3 new stations crossed
- 73 turnouts
- 350 employees at peak
- €144 M amount of the rail systems package
To know more about the EOLE project led by SNCF Réseau : www.rer-eole.fr