SNCF Réseau is modernizing the main line in Calais, and Agilis, a subsidiary of NGE, is completing the largest acoustic barrier installation project carried out in the Hauts-de-France region.

The project was entrusted to the Agilis/Terélian group, with the central aim of sustainably reducing noise pollution in order to preserve the quality of life of local residents, in the face of the increase in rail freight planned by SNCF Réseau for 2040.

NGE's multi-trade expertise to meet the requirements of the construction site

To carry out this project in a constrained environment, a specialized consortium was formed, drawing on the multi-disciplinary strength of the NGE group, bringing together:

• Agilis, for the installation of acoustic screens
• The NGE Multi-trade Region in Hauts-de-France and particularly its subsidiary Guintoli for earthworks
• A2F, a subsidiary of NGE Foundations, for the installation of micropiles

With the aim of reconciling the proximity of dwellings, the safety of traffic, the management of co-activities and the technical aspects of the construction site.

A structuring project for the local economy

Spanning two years of work, from 2023 to 2025, the installation of noise barriers was part of the first phase of the Calais Main Line modernization program. This major project is profoundly transforming Calais's rail infrastructure. Alongside the track renewal between Calais-Ville and the Quai de la Loire, the modernization of the Paul-Bert and Montréal level crossings, and the replacement of the Mollien bridge, it primarily reinforces a strategic axis: the Calais Main Line. Stretching 4,4 km, it connects Calais-Ville station to the Dunes rail yard and constitutes the main freight corridor between the port and the national rail network. Its modernization improves the logistical performance of the Hauts-de-France region and prepares for the increase in freight trains linked to the port's development, thus strengthening Calais's position in European trade.

A priority action: protecting the living environment of local residents

This modernization of the main line involves particular attention to preserving the living environment of local residents, notably by controlling noise pollution in the urban areas crossed.

Consultation with the Architects of the Buildings of France also ensured respectful integration into the landscape, near the listed belfry. Therefore, concrete-wood screens, some equipped with expanded metal for vegetation, were chosen for sections such as Rue Mollien, Quai de la Loire, Rue Hoche, and Rue Cambronne.

The project was accompanied by exemplary local dialogue led by SNCF Réseau. Public meetings, local discussions and two co-construction workshops in 2022 allowed residents to be involved in the choice of materials and forms.

The installation of the acoustic screens thus marks the completion of the first phase of the modernization project for the Calais main railway line.