Railway Bridges

A particular specialisation has been acquired in the field of rail bridges through regular collaboration with French organisations such as SNCF and C.T.I.C.M.

The development of high-speed railway lines (LGV) in Europe has provided us with the opportunity to carry out a large number of studies on the dynamic behaviour of bridges during high-speed traffic.

These very specific calculations, requiring experience and mastery of the algorithms used, were carried out using the ANSYS finite element calculation code. They enabled the validation of selected designs with regard to traffic safety and passenger comfort.

LGV East European High Speed Line

Claye-Souilly Viaduct

Type of Study: Execution design, Section: Double composite girder

Number of spans: 8, total length: 415 m

Moselle Canal Viaduct

Type of Study: Execution design , Section: Quadruple composite girder

Number of spans: 3, total length: 191 m

Bourgaltroff Viaduct

Type of study: External design and control of execution studies (calculation reports and drawings)

Cross-section: Double composite girder, Number of spans: 5, Total length: 231 m

Lidrezing Viaduct

Type of study: External control of execution design studies (calculation reports and drawings)

Cross-section: Double composite girder, Number of spans: 4, Total length: 176 m

Landbach Viaduct

Type of study: Execution design

Cross-section: Double composite girder, Number of spans: 10, Total length: 500 m

Charles de Gaulle Express : Railway bridge « Les Cathédrales »

As part of the new Charles de Gaulle Express railway line, the SNCF has decided to build a new railway bridge called ‘Les Cathédrales’ to replace the existing 1894 bridge, humbly named ‘Pont n° 1’. The new line will link the centre of the French capital (Gare de l’Est) with Charles de Gaulle airport in the northern suburbs of Paris. Journey times should be reduced to around 20 minutes (compared with 45 minutes at present for the same distance). Opening is scheduled for August 2025.

The basic design of the structure is fairly standard: Warren lattice lateral girders and decking with filler beams. What sets it apart, however, is its exceptional dimensions, reaching a European record for structures of this type: single span of 142 m, height of the lattice girders of 16,5 m for a total weight of steel structure 1 800 t.

Our office provided the execution design studies for the steel structure.

Owner and project manager: SNCF

Construction consortium:

Eiffage Génie Civil (leader)
Eiffage Métal
NGE – BTP GC

Photos : Sernavision

Rhine-Rhone high-speed line

For this vast project of high-speed line network extension, we have been entrusted with the execution design studies of composit decks for several viaducts or the external supervision of execution design studies and dynamic studies of exceptional bridges. Our involvement can be summarised as follows:

Execution design studies of the bridge deck:

Linotte viaduct (double composite beam, length 362m),
Quenoche Viaduct (double composite beam, 420m),
Corcelles Viaduct (double composite beam, 445m),
Ognon Viaduct (double composite beam, 178m),
Áibre Trémoins Viaduct (double composite beam, 250m),
Pertuis Viaduct (double composite beam, 220m) and
Epenottes Viaduct (double composite beam, 450m).

External control :

La Lizaine Viaduct (double box girder, 717m) and
Savoureuse Viaduct (lateral beams and deck with filler beams, steel tetrapod supports, total length 792m).

Client: Eiffel Construction Métallique

LGV SEA, Tours-Bordeaux (France)

For this vast project of the high-speed rail network (LGV), we have been entrusted by our client Eiffage Métal with the execution design studies for the composite deck of the Vienne Viaduct.

The structure is a double composite girder, with a total length of 345m over 6 spans.

The study included the verification of the dynamic behaviour under passage of high-speed trains as well as checks on rail-structure interaction for the risks of instability of long welded rails. A 3D finite element model had to be built to study the longitudinal locking devices required to withstand the braking and seismic forces.

Contracting authority: LISEA (Vinci) Concessionaire

Conceptual design : COSEA-SGI

External design audit: SECOA

Steel fabricator: EIFFAGE METAL

LGV BPL, Bretagne-Pays de la Loire (France)

For this vast project of the high-speed network (LGV), we have taken in charge the execution design studies of the composite decks for four engineering structures:

PRA 0238: Double composite girder, total length 73m (21+31+21), structure with a strong bias in plan.

RaPL 1205 Genest: Lateral beam deck, 3 bays, total length 114.3m

RaPL 1058 Bonchamps: Lateral beam deck, 5 bays with a total length of 198.2m

La Vaige Viaduct: Composite double girder, total length 104m (33+38+33)

The study required complete finite element modelling of the lateral beam deck bridges and, for all structures, verification of their dynamic behaviour under high-speed train traffic.

Contracting authority: SNCF

Conceptual design : SETEC-INGEROP

External design audit: SECO

Steel fabricator: EIFFAGE METAL

Tramway Bridge of Troyon (Paris, France)

As part of the new Paris tramway network, it was decided to replace the old Troyon Bridge with a new structure that respects the shape of its predecessor and fits into the environment of the banks of the Seine.

We carried out the execution studies for the steel structure of this structure on behalf of the constructor Eiffage Construction Métallique.

Architect: Ateliers Lion associés

Steel construction: EIFFAGE C.M

Arts et Métiers Tramway Bridge (Angers, France)

The new Arts & Métiers bridge is located in the historic centre of Angers over the Maine river. It serves line B of the city’s tramway. The structure has a total length of 135 m for a deck width of 15 m with a central tramway platform and comfortable wooden sidewalks at the ends.

The structure consists of two lateral box girders connected by filler beams. The construction has braced supports (4 posts) arranged in an inverted pyramidal arrangement.

As a subcontractor to Eiffage Métal, we carried out the execution design study of the steel structure and the implementation study by launching.

Contracting authority: Communauté d’Agglomération Angers Loire Métropole

Delegated project management: Local public development company : ALter (Anjou Loire Territory).

Architect: Lavigne Cheron

Conceptual structural design: EGIS JMI

Steel fabricator: Eiffage Métal

Canal de l’Ourcq Tramway Bridge (Paris, France)

As part of the extension of the tramway line T3, the new bridge over the canal is at the heart of a changing landscape and industrial heritage. The bridge will be reserved for trams, cyclists and pedestrians.

The 121.60 m long and nearly 14 m wide steel-frame structure consists of a continuous central box girder (3 spans) and converging diagonal cantilever beams on which the orthotropic steel slab-type deck is laid.

Our team drew up the execution design studies and the study for the erection of the structure as a subcontractor of the steel fabricator.

Architects : Reichen and Robert & Associates

Contracting authority: City of Paris

Conceptual structural design: SETEC Tpi

Steel fabricator : Eiffel Constructions Métalliques

Bridges OA8 & OA11 Tram-Train Massy Evry (Paris, France)

Execution design studies, as Eiffage Métal’s sub-contractor design office, of two structures forming part of the tram-train insertion operation along the A6 motorway, its collectors and slip roads.

The two structures are structurally a box composite bridge (made of corten steel) and support two tram tracks. The OA8 is a two-span structure with a total length of 97 m and a steeply inclined (52o) central pier. OA11 is a three-span structure with a total length of 90 m with straight supports but a very off-centre section.

Contracting authority: Ile de France Mobilité and Transamo/Algoé (STIF’s representative)

Architect: Lavigne Cheron

Conceptual structural design: ARTELIA

Steel fabricator: Eiffage Métal