August 17, 2026
Equans France is leading the modernization of SNCF signal boxes
Ineo Scle Ferroviaire (Signaling Agency), a division of Equans France, in collaboration with Hitachi, SETEC, and SNIC, oversaw the commissioning of two new computerized signal boxes for SNCF Réseau on Line L. These replaced the old, traditional signal boxes at Versailles Rive-Droite and Viroflay Rive-Droite. This project aims to modernize the rail infrastructure by improving its reliability, its responsiveness in the event of an incident, and the regularity of traffic. This improvement thus enhances safety and performance for nearly 300,000 daily passengers.
SNCF Traffic Modernization in Versailles a Success Thanks to Equans France
The construction of this infrastructure involved:
- More than 30,000 hours of in-depth studies,
- 165 weeks of work and testing,
- More than 500 SNCF employees and partners involved,
- Including nearly 80 experts from Equans France dedicated to the project’s success.
The project began in 2020 with the issuance of the request for proposals and the signing of the interface contract, followed by detailed design work starting in 2021. Construction work began in late 2022, followed by technical inspections starting in the summer of 2024.
Following an “Opération Coup de Poing” (OCP) that lasted an exceptional 53 hours from November 28 to December 1, 2025, the new Versailles Rive-Droite PAI was put into service. This station is now fully remotely controlled from the Remote Control Center (PCD) in Saint-Cloud, thereby efficiently managing rail traffic.
A Multi-Stakeholder Partnership at the Heart of a Successful Rail Project to Improve the Performance of the Computerized Switching System
The success of this project stems from a strong collaboration between several stakeholders:
- The Signaling Agency of Ineo Scle Ferroviaire, in a consortium with:
- Hitachi, as the lead contractor, providing its technological solutions and services,
- SETEC, for multidisciplinary engineering,
- SNIC, a specialist in railway signaling design.
These partners covered all the essential phases: design, construction, technical inspections, and commissioning.
Modernized railroad signaling: about 50 specialists from Equans France
The commissioning involved about 50 specialists from Equans France, organized into several teams:
Elements
Details
Steering Committee
3 employees
Construction Team
15 employees
Technical Inspections
10 employees
External partners, including Bouygues Energies & Services and Colas Rail (formerly SAFERAIL)
15 speakers
Research Assistant
6 employees
Commissioning
50 people
Railway Environment
A dense and constrained context
The modernization involving these fully remote-controlled signal boxes represents:
Modernized elements
Quantity
PAI Switching Stations
2 positions
Distribution Centers
29 centers
Modernized signals
28 signals
Local Cabling
More than 45 km
Ineo Scle Ferroviaire: An Essential Partner in SNCF Réseau's Digital Transformation
This major development improves the robustness of the infrastructure, the ability to respond to incidents, and the consistency of service on Line L. These benefits also extend to Line U along their shared section.
This innovative approach has proven effective in terms of:
- Enhanced security.
- Improved collective performance.
- Stronger coordination between business units.
- Technology integration.
Building on this success, Equans France is developing a similar project in Dourdan, scheduled to go live in May 2027, thereby solidifying its role as a key partner in the digital transformation of the rail industry.
