RSRG refurbishes "La Rhune" railway line in the French region of Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
The railway line known as "Petit train de la Rhune" runs from Coll de Saint Ignace at an altitude of 164 metres above sea level. It runs over a maximum gradient of 25% to the summit of la Rhune at 05 metres above sea level.
The track renewal experts for cog railways at RSRG have successfully completed many projects: In the Southern Alps, the refurbishment of almost ten kilometres of the railway line on Monte Generos; the 5.1 kilometres of Chamonix-Montenvers railway line in the Mont Blanc massif; the 12 kilometre Tramway du Mont Blanc; and a section of the Puy de Dôme volcano in the French Massif Central measuring 5.3 kilometres. Added to these successful jobs was a project which ran from September 5, 2022, to May 30, 2023, which saw the refurbishment of the La Rhune railway line (4.25 kilometres) in the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
La Rhune, with its extremely challenging climatic conditions, is not only a picturesque place, but also a nature reserve. The climate had a significant impact on the organisation of the construction site, especially with regard to the restrictive regulations for operations. The protection of flora and fauna had to be guaranteed at every stage of operations. Furthermore, all other environmental protection aspects had to be considered. The unstable and changing climate with constant strong winds, frequent rain showers, and snow and ice storms, dictated the course of the work. Project manager Stefano Rossi and site manager IIidio Boucinha de Amorim benefited from their deep experiences with comparable construction sites, particularly those at Monte Generoso in Ticino, where the work had to be carried out under similar operating conditions and natural circumstances. Thus, the renovation was perfectly executed to the satisfaction of the customers, while fully complying with all safety and environmental regulations, as well as the quality regulations and conditions.
Since June 3, 2023, the facility is back in operation and delights both thousands of tourists who climb the summit daily and the EPSA employees who drive along the route every day
Project Petit Train de la Rhune
- Location: Département Pyrénées Atlantiques, France
- Assignment: Renovation of the cogwheel railway
- Construction Section: La Rhune railway line (4.25 kilometres)
- Construction Phase: September 5, 2022 to May 30, 2023
