SNCF Réseau has awarded the fourth work package of its industrial regeneration contract to Vinci Construction's subsidiary ETF.  

The latest contract, valued at approximately €700m ($764.68m), is seen as a step towards the transformation and upgrade of France's railway network. 

In total, SNCF Réseau has awarded four calls for tenders, worth €1.8bn. 

This project entails upgrading more than 800km of track and ballast across France by the end of 2030.  

The infrastructure regeneration initiative is expected to enhance the regularity and frequency of train movements in the country. 

VINCI Construction said it will employ mobile factory trains and use a fast-sequencing method to carry out the works at an industrial pace.  

The project will include 150,000 hours of work allocated to professional integration and training programmes over its seven-year duration.

ETF has previously upgraded 1,750km of railway track.  

The development comes after SNCF Réseau awarded works package two of a contract relating to industrial track renovation to ETF in June 2022. 

On 1 January 2015, SNCF Réseau was formed through the merger of network owner Réseau Ferré de France with SNCF Infra and traffic manager Direction de la Circulation Ferroviaire. 

SNCF Réseau is currently responsible for managing the French rail network as its sole infrastructure manager. 

Last month, the Balfour Beatty Vinci joint venture (JV) achieved a new milestone in the construction of the High Speed 2 railway line project in the UK. 

The JV successfully positioned the first major viaduct section over the motorway network in North Warwickshire.