FRANCE: A consortium led by MerMec subsidiary Compagnie des Signaux, working with Eiffage Energie Systemes and Systra, has commisioned its first Argos digital interlocking on the Réding – Saverne pilot line in the Grand Est region.
The Argos ‘innovation partnership’ programme launched by infrastructure manager SNCF Réseau in June 2018 is aimed at developing a new generation of digital interlockings to replace the network’s remaining mechanical, electro-mechanical and relay-based signalling systems. The infrastructure manager said it was looking to achieve a 30% reduction in deployment times and a 15% reduction in total cost of ownership, along with improvements in performance.
Three consortia were selected in September 2020 to develop, commission and maintain pre-production digital interlockings. These were originally formed of Thales/Engie Solutions/Vossloh; Hitachi Rail STS/Eiffage Énergie Systèmes/Systra; and Alstom. Each group was tasked with upgrading an existing installation and developing a pre-series interlocking, with a view to commissioning the first digital interlockings by the end of 2023.
However, Hitachi Rail subsequently acquired Thales GTS and spun off its French main line signalling business CSEE to MerMec. Hitachi Rail commissioned its pilot interlocking based on the Thales technology at Chasse sur Rhône in April 2025.
According to CSEE, its innovative digital architecture has been designed to enable the deployment of a new generation of scalable and high-performance interlockings, ‘allowing real-time communication, high responsiveness to incidents, and reduced impact in case of failure or maintenance’. The ‘reinforced’ cybersecurity requirements had been integrated from the design stage, ‘ensuring even safer and more reliable operations’.
‘The commissioning of the Réding – Saverne pilot site rewards the commitment and expertise of the women and men of SNCF Réseau and our consortium, who contributed to the success of this programme’, said CSEE Chief Executive Gilles Pascault. ’It also demonstrates the technological know-how and industrial capacity of Compagnie des Signaux, which joined the MerMec group in August 2024, and paves the way for a series of deployments at the heart of the digital transformation of rail infrastructure.’
Systra President Éric de Balincourt added that the consultancy had been involved ‘at every stage of the Argos programme since the research phase began in 2018’. It would now be involved in the deployment stage that will continue for more than 10 years, carrying out signalling design and on-site testing. ‘We are particularly proud, through this commissioning, to contribute to the Centralised Command programme implemented by SNCF Réseau.’
