European Metropolis of Lille: Mid-life operation for VAL 206 metro trains

European Metropolis of Lille: Mid-life operation for VAL 206 metro trains

Background & Challenges

In 2019, the European Metropolis of Lille (M.E.L.) launched a Public Contract Call for Tenders for the renovation of 23/25 VAL 206 trains used on the Lille, Toulouse metro networks and as an Orlyval Shuttle. The renovation concerns a so-called mid-life operation. This operation consists in renovating or overhauling rolling stock when it reaches 20 years of operation. Masteris responded to this call for tenders in partnership with the Hovart Company.

Objectives

Precisely, it is necessary to replace certain hardware equipment: the treatment of the obsolescence of the control panels, the redesign of the driving handle and the implementation of LED headlight technology.
Also, the renovation includes the improvement of the compressed air supply system, composed of a compressor and a converter (equipment mounted in the underbody of the trains). This safety system guarantees the braking and suspension of the train under all circumstances and de facto the safety of passengers.

The Challenge

The modernization project consists of 5 main phases:

• Study and procurement phase from June to December 2019

• Industrialization phase in January 2020

• Production phase from March 2020 to September 2021 (the Contracting Authority stopped production due to COVID19: market adjournment for 3 months)

• Documentary Phase as Soon as the Project Is Launched

• Guaranteed phase (after-sales service provided by Hovart) until December 2022

Production was scheduled to begin in March 2020 and end in January 2022. However, it had to be stopped for 3 months (adjournment due to the Covid-19 health crisis). This adjournment has resulted in the entire project being postponed and delayed to bring it to a close at the end of April 2022.

The MASTERIS solution — Services provided

For two and a half years, the Masteris team, as a marketing entity, was responsible for:

• Customer relationship and project management

• Integration studies

• Purchasing and logistics

• Financial management and quality

• The Contractual and Legal Part

Results

• A controlled renovation of the VAL 206 BIS trains, combining respect for rolling stock and integrating technical improvements.

• Successful compliance, guaranteeing the secure operation of the equipment on the two automated lines of the Lille network.

• A new version of the flagship blocks designed, validated and integrated, meeting the requirements of sustainability, visibility and design.

• Fluid and responsive project management, appreciated by the customer for the quality of exchanges, the maintenance of deadlines and the adaptability of the MASTERIS teams.

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Verbatims

Project manager, Frank Fenez:

“This project is above all a human adventure during which we were able to highlight the qualities and expertise of each person. I am proud to have been able to represent this team on behalf of Masteris both internally and externally.

The collaboration between Hovart and Masteris has demonstrated the complementarity of our organizations, our ability to achieve our common goals. In addition, this association has made it possible to develop the proximity and the necessary listening to our client Lille Métropole Européenne via the company Keolis Lille Métropole to guarantee the success of this project.”

Customer: Candice Arbault Business Manager

“The additional renovation of Val 206 bis was entrusted to Masteris by the European Metropolis of Lille (MEL), which is investing in order to guarantee better reliability and longevity of its equipment fleet. The Masteris multidisciplinary project team provides procurement, installation and testing services on trains in accordance with the high level of requirements expected by the MEL teams.” - Transpole, a subsidiary of Keolis

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