Eco-sustainable stops
In order to provide a comfortable, innovative and sustainable waiting area and information to passengers boarding at an unmanned station, a non-managed stop, SNCF Gares & Connexions has developed the concept of an ‘eco-sustainable modular stop’. More than a simple shelter, the eco-sustainable stop represents a research laboratory conducted by SNCF when it comes to sustainable development and projects with low environmental impact.
Several eco-sustainable stops have been designed already, including Niederbronn-les-Bains in Alsace, Yvetot in Haute-Normandie, Portets in Gironde and Gravigny-Balizy in Île-de-France.
Each project is designed by SNCF Gares & Connexions’ stations agencies development teams.
Lighting
Lighting represents around 40% of energy consumption at stations. Our electricity bill is approximately 8 million euros each year and accounts for 1% of SNCF’s total consumption. There are currently many experiments in process on the platforms and in the underpasses – with the collaboration of SNCF Réseau – and in the passenger buildings, to reduce our lighting bill by around 40% (remote management, LEDs, etc.). The project teams rely on the expertise of our TechniGares establishments who are responsible for the maintenance and works.
Waste
Various projects are being undertaken simultaneously to optimise SNCF Gares & Connexions’ waste recovery with the gradual introduction of new segregating bins. This is being done in consultation with the Île-de-France Stations Department and experimental actions are being taken with the carriers, like SNCF Voyages, to optimise the collection of paper and newspapers on board trains. The objective is to increase the recovery of waste through a better selective sorting system.
Water and biodiversity
Faced with growing pressures on water resources and associated risks, SNCF Gares & Connexions is helping to improve management of water network infrastructure and reduce consumption by evaluating existing networks, like at Paris Nord. Many actions are being taken to reduce the use of weedkillers on the edges of the tracks in order to preserve biodiversity and limit health risks. At the same time we have been speaking to the bird protection league about how to incorporate biodiversity
in our practices for cleaning green spaces at stations. The objective is to make viable or improve how stations help to preserve biodiversity. In consultation with the Île-de-France Stations Department and with the public rail group’s strategy in mind, SNCF Gares & Connexions is now contributing to the programme for improving indoor air quality. Particular action is being taken for enclosed underground rail spaces in Île-de-France.
Noise pollution
The ‘Calm station’ programme helps to fight against noise pollution at stations. It is based on three principles:
– displaying the platform number as early as possible in order to ease flows of passengers in the waiting rooms;
– reducing announcements (quantity and duration) at normal times in order to have a stronger impact when there are disruptions;
– modifying the messages of announcements to make them more concise so as to improve perception of the information.
