AFSB: Fourth successful high-impact operation!
The AFSB project (Railway Development South of Bordeaux) is continuing to make progress as part of the future New South-West Line (LNSO). Over the Ascension weekend, a new milestone was reached thanks to the efforts of the ETF / INEO SCLE Ferroviaire consortium, which carried out the project’s fourth major phase of works between Cadaujac and Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans.
For 48 hours straight, 80 staff members took turns to carry out the migration of 2.4 km of catenary lines to CS2R technology, involving two installation runs carried out within a particularly tight work window. This operation brought the overall progress of the PrépaCat 2 project to 80 per cent, representing 8 sections already converted from CN to CSRR across 3 OCPs completed, 40 km of conductors laid and 8 CN/CSRR technology transition zones created along the line
The final major operation, scheduled for 11 November 2026, will mark the completion of the overhead line replacement works. The overhead line teams will remain on site until 2028 to support the final phases of the project: carrying out the power supply works required for the commissioning of the Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans substation, as well as work on several engineering structures.
Keen to minimise disruption to local residents, ETF continues to use hybrid machinery during night-time operations, thereby helping to reduce noise levels near residential areas.