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1846
Foundation of SCB
Ernest Gouin set up the Batignolles construction company (SCB), which played an active part in building the first railway lines in France, but also worldwide, competing with the British position in the railway sector. -
1900
Foundation of SPIE
Baron Édouard Empain set up the Société Parisienne pour l’Industrie des chemins de fer et des Tramways Électriques, SPIE. -
1931
Foundation of Seco
Seco was founded (Société d’Études et de Construction d’Outillage) to build and operate the first high-yield French ballast undercutter-screener designed by Maurice Lemaire, an engineer with Compagnie des Chemins de Fer du Nord, then Construction and Housing Minister, from 1953 to 1955. -
1950
Development of Seco
Seco evolved in the 1950s and extended its business to carry out track-laying, renewals and upkeep. -
1968
Foundation of Spie Batignolles
SCB and SPIE merged to form Spie Batignolles. -
1978
Foundation of Seco/DG
Following the acquisition of Seco and Verstraeten, Desquenne & Giral became a holding in 1978 and took a new name, Gestion Desquenne & Giral. It brought all of the railway businesses under the Seco Desquenne & Giral banner, which was quickly to become Seco/DG. Seco changed its name at the same time and became Société d’Entretien et de Construction. The group continued to acquire a number of other companies in the 1980s and 1990s. The railway activities of the acquired companies were gradually merged with Seco/DG. -
1978
Establishment in Middle East
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1980
First establishment in South America
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2000
Foundation of Seco-Rail
In October 2000, the Colas Group acquired the rail activities of Desquenne et Giral and founded Seco Rail. -
2003
Foundation of Amec Spie Rail
Amec took over Spie and set up Amec Spie Rail. -
2007
Colas acquires Spie Rail
The Colas Group acquired Spie Rail. -
2008
The foundation of Colas Rail
Founding of Colas Rail, born from the merger of Seco-Rail and Spie Rail. -
2010
Establishment in North Africa
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2011
Establishment in Asia
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2015
Establishment in the Adriatic region
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2016
Enters the Subsaharan market
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2017
Establishment in North America
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2018
Acquisition of Kummler & Matter, Elektroline, Colas Rail Italia and Lundy Projects
As part of the acquisition of Alpiq Engineering Services' railway activities on July 31st, three railway companies specialized in catenaries joined Colas Rail in continental Europe: Kummler Matter in Switzerland, Elektroline in Czech Republic and Alpiq Enertrans SPA in Italy. Thus, Colas Rail strengthens its position as an international and multi-disciplinary player in the sector.