Major technical advances on the Vitry-sur-Seine SMI construction site
The beginning of 2024 marked the completion of several milestones in the construction of the future Infrastructure Maintenance Site (SMI) in Vitry-sur-Seine (94). At the heart of Line 15’s operations, it is dedicated to maintenance workshops and equipment storage. It will also enable infrastructure maintenance to be carried out south of the line. Ultimately, it will accommodate nearly 450 employees.
Since 26 September 2022, nearly 50 ETF employees have been working hard to complete the installation of the railway infrastructure (tracks and catenary) for the Vitry-sur-Seine SMI. Located 400 metres from the future Ardoines station, this project is a technical tour de force in terms of track laying.
A construction site with multiple technical challenges in a tunnel…
The tunnel connecting the SMI to the main tunnel of Line 15 South is single-track with significant dimensions: 6.70 m in diameter, 1,728 m in length and a curve of +/-600 m.
This configuration requires the operational teams to work backwards when installing the rails. To do this, the rails are first laid out on either side of the walls, and the sleepers are installed as the work progresses. The tracks are assembled in 350-metre sections, using a template to ensure precision and alignment. This area is then concreted using a fixed pump and a pipe fed by the concrete mixer truck.
Most of the rails installed are low-carbon, in line with a responsible environmental approach.
… and above ground
The technical challenges continue with the installation of a complex series of railway tracks. This is particularly the case for the interlocking installation of two double junction crossings (TJD) and a single junction (Brt), forming a diagonal line with a total length of 87 metres. In total, three TJD and twelve single Brt are planned to be installed, requiring careful planning and precise execution to ensure the tracks are properly connected.
Various installation techniques have been used throughout the project to meet the structural requirements of the site. In particular, installation was carried out on a resin slab that envelops the rails, allowing the passage of pneumatic vehicles necessary for the supply and logistics of the SMI. For example, this will facilitate the delivery of landing doors that will equip the future stations of line 15 in the near future.
Throughout this project, ETF teams competed in terms of techniques, methods and expertise to make all the ambitions of the client, Grand Paris Express, a reality. This project, like that of line 15 of the Grand Paris Express, is part of a social initiative with more than 7,000 hours of professional integration carried out on the SMI site in Vitry.
