BergerWorld: 3rd Quarter 2008

France's first rail line was constructed in 1832. Today, the country's railway network is among the most extensive in Western Europe, spanning 31,840 kilometers and connecting with Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the United Kingdom.

In 1981, the state-of-the-art, 470-kilometer TGV rail service was introduced between Paris and Lyon. Today, the TGV network spans 1,847 kilometers. Louis Berger SAS is currently assisting Réseau Ferré de France (RFF), which owns, operates and maintains the French national railway network, complete a number of projects to extend the TGV network an additional 2,000 kilometers by 2020.

The nearly $5 billion, 425-kilometer Ligne à Grande Vitesse (LGV) Rhin-Rhône, located between Strasbourg and Lyon, is projected to serve more than 12 million passengers annually, connecting to 12 of France's 21 metropolitan regions and linking with lines servicing a number of nearby countries. Louis Berger SAS analyzed freight forecasts and railway capacity and reviewed preliminary environmental studies to ensure their compliance with RFF specifications and French and European regulations.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) is an important economic area located in southeastern France. A number of major cities are located within the region, including Marseille, Nice, Toulon and Aix-en-Provence, as well as the French Riviera. To service PACA's growing population, RFF proposed the construction of an $11 billion, 240-kilometer high-speed rail line, and Louis Berger SAS was commissioned to provide a socioeconomic evaluation of the proposed line. The Team's duties include analyzing existing traffic studies to assess potential ridership, revenue and freight traffic; defining the project corridor; evaluating potential environmental impacts; and recommending project phasing.

The cities of Montpellier and Perpignan are both located in the south of France. Montpellier is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region and has a population exceeding 200,000, while Perpignan is the prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales department and home to 116,000. In an effort to construct a new rail line between the two cities, the last missing high-speed link between France and Spain, Louis Berger SAS was selected by RFF to review existing traffic forecasts; evaluate current and potential freight demand; determine the region's transportation needs; assess potential environmental impacts; evaluate impacts to competing modes and related infrastructure and facility needs; and review proposed operations and train schedules.

Lyon (population 470,000), located in east-central France, is the third largest city in the country behind Paris (population 2,168,000) and Marseille (population 820,900), as well as a major commercial and industrial hub. In an effort to improve passenger and cargo services and reduce metropolitan congestion, RFF is currently studying a new 100-kilometer line to bypass the city center. The link will create an improved north-south cargo route from Germany and the Benelux to Italy and Spain; provide improved rail passenger service from a number of nearby cities to Lyon-Saint Exupéry International Airport; and connect a number of new lines, including LGV Rhin-Rhône and Lyon-Turin, to the existing network. Louis Berger SAS was commissioned to assist in the planning and the preliminary studies, including reviewing existing environmental and city planning regulations; obtaining necessary permits and government approval; and managing an extensive public outreach program.

The Team was also retained by RFF to assist in the development of the $16 billion, 400-kilometer Lyon-Turin high-speed rail line. The new line will serve as a key European freight and passenger corridor connecting Lisbon, Portugal, with Kiev, Ukraine, via a new 52-kilometer Alpine tunnel. Berger's duties include developing the preliminary studies for the proposed line.