It is one of the two interurban lines that knows the most reliability problems in France: the Paris-Orleans-Limoges-Toulouse (or Polt) link has been experiencing dysfunctions and delays that poison the daily life of its users for years.
This line (such as Paris-Clermont Ferrand) must benefit from the new oxygen trains that will arrive in 2027 and that will replace the prediluvian coral trains. But without a solid infrastructure, these new trains are likely to also experience problems and delays.
544 kilometers long, it should be remembered that the Polt line is one of the first French lines, it was inaugurated in 1843 (first to Orleans).
“An extraordinary project”
The State, which finances and covers the losses of the interity trains, decided in 2018 to put its hands in its pocket with an envelope for the purchase of trains and another to partially finance the regeneration of the roads (the essential is covered by the SNCF network, a large part of the budget comes from the benefits of SNCF travelers).
For the Polt line, the work finally reaches the heart of the matter after several postpones. The operation carried out by the SNCF network is to completely renew 70 kilometers of roads (rails, ballast and mischief) between Bushels and the Aubrais (Loiret), through a user train that mobilizes 400 people during the day in the line, and at night, based on works located in Aubrais.
This project in 135 million euros (including 16 million paid by the State), the largest of the year for the Réseau SNCF, is not exempt from consequences for users, since it takes place during the day, resulting in the interruption of traffic traffic between 9:30 am at 5.30 pm, the days of the week, until the end of January 2026.
If the main project renewal projects in the rest of the line are carried out at night, the section in question is an exception, located in the Freight Atlantic corridor, an important European axis of transport transport, said the SNCF network.
“60% of regional and international load trains circulate in the night in this line and must respect the approval schedules imposed on borders,” according to the SNCF. “This is an extraordinary project and we are aware of the impacts of this work on the daily life of travelers,” said Olivier Banll, Executive Managing Director Projects, Maintenance and Operation SNCF Red.
The region and SNCF travelers have presented a transport plan that includes strengthening the trains frequency during traffic hours.
Now, the train user and his 400 workers and technicians entered the cruise speed with 800 meters of lane replaced per day and “mobilizes exceptional means,” according to the SNCF network.
800 meters of lane replaced per day
“There are four different sites at the same time”, from the withdrawal of the old rails to the installation of new ones, and all these other “basic materials”, described to the AFP the regional director of the SNCF network in the center-valuation of Loire, Laurent Quelet.
The so -called “quick continuation” train allows high yields (almost 10 times higher than traditional media), allowing a multi -month decrease in the general duration of the site.
In total, 110,000 tons of ballasts and 112,000 pieces of pieces must be replaced, “the components that need to be renewed after a certain number of years, to guarantee the sustainability and performance of the line,” said Sébastien Roger, which deals with project management in the SNCF network.
The “calendar is celebrated” and ensures that it has already replaced 16 kilometers from the beginning of the main work phase in early August. The end of the nightmare for user approaches and in 2027, will benefit from a stable line and new trains.
Source: BFM TV
