RFF and SNCF have announced a major programme of maintenance and renewals which will see €1 billion spent in 2014 to improve rail infrastructure in and around the French capital.
The plan has been drawn up in response to a report published by the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne in 2012 that highlighted a lack of investment in France’s ageing infrastructure.
More than 1,000 projects, covering the renewal of track, ballast, catenary, bridges and signalling around the country, have been announced for 2014.
The majority of work will centre around the Ile-de-France region, which as well as carrying 40 per cent of France’s rail traffic, has seen passenger numbers increase by 40 per cent in the last 10 years.
RFF and SNCF have also confirmed plans to procure a fourth track renewal train and recruit an additional 900 workers to deliver the improvements planned for the Ile-de-France region.
