The catenary in action south of Bordeaux

ETF (lead contractor), in a consortium with INEO SCLE FERROVIAIRE (EQUANS group), is working on the railway development project for the future Bordeaux-Toulouse line (AFSB). This strategic project, located between Bègles and Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, is part of the Grand Projet du Sud-Ouest (GPSO). Its aim is to modernise the rail network to meet the growing need for mobility, both for daily journeys and for long-distance travel.

The AFSB project, which will run for three years from 2024 to 2027. It is organised into several major phases of work, carried out simultaneously.

The works kicked off in April 2024. Three of the seventeen operations have now been completed. These first months of the market were marked by a major operation that took place on the weekend of 11 November 2024. ETF teams removed all the catenary wires in the Hourcade marshalling area. This 48-hour operation, involving around fifty employees, enabled the ground to be effectively prepared for the rest of the work.

As 2024 draws to a close, the work is intensifying, with the start of work on the main tracks and the replacement of the normal reinforced catenary with CSRR. The CSRR (Caténaire Simple Renforcée Régularisée) is designed by SNCF Réseau to replace the old infrastructure. This new generation of equipment ensures greater reliability, reduces maintenance costs and allows for possible migration to 25 kV in the future.

This modernisation project will promote more reliable and regular traffic, benefiting both passengers and freight operations. It will help to boost the attractiveness and accessibility of the Greater South-West region.