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Overhead lines

Colas Rail, an international leader in railway infrastructure and an expert on catenary systems, is constantly on the lookout for innovation to meet the needs of its customers.
In 2015, our teams, in collaboration with those of TSO Caténaires and in partnership with the SNCF, developed a mass-scale catenary renovation method. Since then, two work trains have seen the light of day: the 1500 V and the 25 KV all-in-one catenary replacement units.

The first of these units replaces posts and catenary wires and is up to 4 times more productive than conventional methods. The second replaces the catenary wires and droppers and is 3 to 4 times more productive than conventional methods. On lines supplied with 1500 V, a civil engineering train specially designed to renovate the catenary poles at a high rate is also provided.

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Our services

In 2015, in the course of mass-scale renovation of the catenaries, the SNCF set important challenges in terms of safety and implementation speed.
Our teams have jointly designed two all-in-one catenary replacement units that meet these challenges.

Design: 
  • 2017 : design of the two 1500 V & 25 KV all-in-one catenary replacement units following the award of the catenary renovation contract across the entire French rail network over a 5-year period, including 2 additional optional years
Construction :
  • 2018 : construction of the work trains for the 25 KV all-in-one catenary replacement unit
  • 2020: construction of the work trains for the 1500 V all-in-one catenary replacement unit
Works:
  • 2019 : Start of renovation work with the two all-in-one catenary replacement units: modernisation of 200 km of line per year.
Training: 

Training of teams in train operation, maintenance and adaptation of working methods.

Safety management:

Improved workstation ergonomics, reduced parallel tasks.

Industry environment and material

Industry environnement: 
  • Conventional railway line
  • Adaptable to different catenary technologies
Our equipment:
  • All-in-one catenary replacement unit 1500 V
  • All-in-one catenary replacement unit 25 kV
Personnel: 
  • 1 Project Director
  • 2 design consultancies
  • 2 project teams
  • 3 machine operators
  • 55 qualified Colas Rail workers
  • 10 Colas Rail executives
  • 10 Colas Rail site technicians

Major projects

Conventional 25 KV line
  • Toul Chalindrey
  • Bonuzonv Hargaten 
  • Toul Chalindrey
  • Bonuzonv Hargaten 
  • Jaundun-Charleville
  • Saverne-Vendenheim
  • Chalon-Blacy
  • Hirson-Lorgny
  • Dernancourt Achiet
  • St Pierre-Rouen
  • Deville à Graville
  • Gannes Ailly Sur N
  • Lambersart Armentieres
  • Soilly Epernay
  • Aubagne Toulon
Conventional 1500 V line
  • Villefranche Perpignan
  • Gruissan Leucate V1
  • Nîmes Lunel

Key Figures

  • M€

    INVESTED

  • CATENARY SUPPORTS AND CONFIGURATIONS WILL BE RENOVATED IN 2022 ON THE 1500 V LINES

  • CATENARY CONFIGURATIONS WILL BE RENOVATED IN 2022 ON THE 25 KV LINES - ON AVERAGE 200 KM OF TRACK PER YEAR