Railways
North station and East station - Paris
Railways in France
History of railways
Railway structure
The French railway network (Photo : RFF)
While the railway is a product or a consequence of the industrial revolution, it is also one of its causes. It is the railway that made it easy to transport goods over long distances and made possible the large concentrations of population in industrial cities through the development of trams and metros.
The railways are an efficient alternative to cars and lorries and a means of reducing congestion at the entry of major cities. They are an efficient means of transport. The TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse or High Speed Train) provides a fast link (...)
Marc Seguin designed this engine to pull coal trains from the mines to waterways. This steam locomotive dates from 1829 and had a tubular boiler (Photo : SECO-RAIL)
Railways were invented in Great Britain, starting at the end of the 18th century.
In France it was not until 1826 that the first section of railway was built, thanks to the pioneering work of Marc Seguin.
Rail tansport expanded considerably during the 2nd half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, but there was a considerable decline in the second half of the 20th century due to the increase in car and (...)
A Eurostar train on ballasted track (Photo : JJ D’ANGELO)
A railway consists of rails which are laid on sleepers that are embedded in ballast or concrete on top of a subgrade. Points and crossings, consisting of rails and machined parts, allow trains to move from one track to another.
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Eastern "TGV"
New track Construction
Track for trams
(Rights reserved)
This new line has an important role to play at European level, improving links with Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland. It constitutes the French part of what is planned to become a major railway corridor - the East European High Speeed Line - between Paris and Budapest which will serve almost 10% of Europe’s population.
From 2007, the Eastern TGV, the first rail link to operate at 320 km/h, will bring the cities in the East of France the major benefits a high speed rail service provides for the well-being and prosperity of the population and the economy.
We (...)
Top, laying a temporary track using a rubber tyred gantry (Photo SECO-RAIL) Right, laying the first track on twin block sleepers (Photo SECO-RAIL) Bottom, laying the second track: handling the sleepers (Photo : SECO-RAIL)
When new lines are constructed they must meet requirements as regards speed, safety and comfort. In addition, precisely defined techniques are employed.
Although it might appear very straightforward, the construction of a railway track requires the most advanced technology and construction and maintenance uses sophisticated equipment.
A new line consists of two (...)
Voie de tramways adaptée aux revêtements urbains (Photo : SECO-RAIL)
Installing tramways at street level, on small streets as well as large avenues, has generated a new and original approach to urban planning.
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Railway maintenance
Railway machinery
Rail industry jobs
Replacing the rails, sleepers and ballast (Photo : DROUARD ETF)
Maintaining the track’s geometry and the reliability of its components requires large-scale track renewal and component maintenance operations.
It is essential for the track to be maintained in good coondition all the time for user safety and comfort and efficient operation.
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Track renewal train, sleeper handling gantry, tamping machine, offset rail unloading machine, screwing machine fastenings , rail saw (Photos : d’ANGELO, ETF, FASSETTA)
Rail contractors use highly specialized equipment:
heavy self-powered or towed machines for track construction, tools for work on track components such as rail fastenings, testing and monitoring equipment used under real operating conditions.
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Some jobs. From left to right and from top to bottom: Track layers, track levelness inspector, diesel engine mechanic, rail laying machine operator (Photos : ETF)
There is a vast range of jobs in the rail industry: the track and the track equipment must be installed, maintained and renewed.
There are a large number of jobs, ranging from engineering to machine operation required at railway worksites.
Take a lock at the opportunities available...
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