France’s high-speed train (TGV) network connects the country’s main cities much faster than conventional trains. To reach their full potential, however, these TGVs need to run on safe routes and rails designed for speeds in excess of 300 kph.

The creation of the LGV BPL therefore required the construction of a very large infrastructure of rails, ramps, bridges and viaducts, electrical networks, structures and various types of protective equipment. One of the challenges of the project was to link this high-speed line with the existing network, which was itself undergoing a great deal of maintenance and investment work. The project also had to comply with precise environmental protection specifications (replanting of 218 ha of woodland, 275 hydraulic structures and 27 ecological corridors for wildlife, etc.). Today, this high-speed line will make it possible to save more than
30 minutes between Paris and Rennes, reducing the journey time to around 90 minutes, and to strengthen regional rail services.

In order to manage this complex project, the SNCF asked Artelia to provide its expertise and management tools to help with the planning of operations, risk analysis, compliance with environmental commitments and the coordination of worksites to meet the expectations of the various stakeholders. Artelia also acted as an independent technical control body for the design/build/maintain consortium.