Connecting Carex sites to high-speed Lines

In order to ensure service reliability, all the locations identified as future CAREX Railports have been chosen on the basis of their proximity to high-speed rail routes and good connections to the road network. The relevant rail infrastructure management companies have already conducted studies for the feasibility of providing branch lines or connecting lines. The aim here is to enable CAREX trains to access mainline high-speed rail routes as quickly as possible in accordance with prevailing technical conditions and minimum injection speeds.

LYON-SAINT-EXUPERY

The Rhône-Alpes HSL (a link in the Paris-Marseille route) passes through Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport from north to south. The French rail infrastructure operator Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) plans to create a branch line just after the airport TGV passenger station. This short single-track section will run parallel to the high-speed line and end at the CargoPort, where the LYON CAREX Railport will be built.

PARIS-CHARLES DE GAULLE

The Nord-Europe HSL passes to the north-west of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, and the area identified is ideally located between the rail line and the airport area. Its proximity to the runways requires the adoption of radio frequency shielding measures for the higher levels of the rail track and overhead power lines. The "initialisation documentation package" study commissioned from INEXIA by RFF and funded jointly by the rail infrastructure operator, Roissy Carex, the Paris Region and the Direction Régionale de l'Équipement (Regional Infrastructure Authority) has been completed. Although multiple connection hypotheses are suggested, RFF and INEXIA favour the creation of a level link (without flyover) to the high-speed line compatible with the slots requested and with increasing Carex service frequency, even during daylight hours.

LIEGE

The Est (Eastern) branch of the Belgian high-speed network links Brussels to the French border, and includes sections of tracks capable of sustaining speeds up to 300 kph, as well as sections of upgraded standard line. The high-speed line runs parallel with the standard line just a few hundred metres north of Liège Airport. Infrabel, the Belgian rail infrastructure operator, conducted a preliminary study in 2007. The decision in favour of locating the LIEGE CAREX railport on land belonging to the Société Wallonne des Aéroports enables the creation of a single link to and from the west (Brussels) using an existing spur.

AMSTERDAM-SCHIPHOL

The Belgian/Dutch LGV 4/HSL Zuid high-speed line between Antwerp and Amsterdam-Schiphol became operational on 13 December 2009. Capable of supporting speeds up to 300 kph, it passes very close to the Hoofddorp-Haarlemmermeer site earmarked for the Carex rail freight terminal. At the request of the HST Cargo Schiphol (AMSTERDAM CAREX) group, ProRail, the Dutch rail infrastructure operator, has conducted an initial study that confirms the feasibility of a connection that will be simple to implement, since it is parallel to the high-speed line. Its construction in an existing regeneration area could be brought forward and should benefit from public joint funding.

LONDON

Unlike the other CAREX sites, the LONDON CAREX Railport will not be located at an airport, since London's airports have no direct rail link with the continent. The rail terminal will therefore be constructed east of London, alongside the HS1 high-speed line between the Channel Tunnel and St. Pancras station.