Upgrading the French rail system with track works
Safe travel for our customers is a priority at SNCF. Find out what we’re doing to improve the French rail system and keep passengers informed.
Boosting network performance
We keep travellers safe with track works to maintain and upgrade the French rail system regularly. Our aim? Continually improve our service and help our passengers save time.
The stages of a works project
- Planning: in this stage we determine when traffic will be interrupted in a given area, order materials, and make plans with subcontractors and SNCF staff responsible for safety and oversight during the works.
- Securing the project site: this can include single-tracking and limiting train speeds in the affected area.
- Implementation: we upgrade the system, including track, signalling, catenaries, tunnels, bridges and viaducts; expand it by creating new lines; or perform routine maintenance, such as monitoring the network and replacing select sleepers, rail sections, points and catenaries.
- Inspecting the completed project: SNCF employees ensure that works are compliant and the rail system meets quality standards.
- Resuming traffic: once the works are complete, the affected area is reopened, and trains can run safely at normal speeds.
Vigi-Express
More efficient passenger information
We schedule maintenance and upgrades several years in advance. To minimize disruptions, we adjust train timetables and make every effort to keep passengers informed before, during and after the works.
Adapting rail traffic
When a project will take several days, we modify our transport plan. This could mean rerouting a train to go around the works or organizing road shuttles to get passengers to their destinations. To keep disruptions to a minimum, we carry out works at night whenever we can.
Passenger information
When a route will be affected by works, we inform passengers when they buy their tickets, and in the station with signage and announcements. This makes them aware of changes to routes and timetables, and lets them plan for any delays.
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