SNC-Lavalin picked for Grand Paris Express

expat network

SNC-Lavalin picked for Grand Paris Express

A consortium led by SNC-Lavalin has won the contract to manage construction of Line 18 of France’s largest-ever public transport project.

Société du Grand Paris (SGP) awarded the project management assistance contract for Line 18 of the Grand Paris Express to Linéov Group, which is made up of SNC-Lavalin, Algoé and Transamo. The contract covers covers both the supervision of the construction and operations of line.

SNC-Lavalin will advise SGP on project management as well as overseeing all the contractors and suppliers involved in the Line 18 project, which includes 14km of viaducts and substantial technical, environmental and heritage constraints.

The 36km Line 18 will link Orly Airport with the city of Versailles. It will include 10 stations, three of them air terminals, within a larger 200km, 68-station network. Commissioning of the first phase is planned for 2024, followed by a second phase in 2030. As well as a connection to Orly Aiport, the line will provide connections with Lines B and C of the regional fast-transit system, Réseau Express Régional (RER).

As an ancillary service for SGP, SNC-Lavalin will also carry out a pre-project audit for the southern extension of Line 14 of the Paris metro, to be built by RATP and Aéroports de Paris, co-principals in this project with SGP.

“We are very proud to be participating in the largest public transit project ever launched in France,” said Eric Gratton, vice-president, cities and transport, SNC-Lavalin.

“We are very happy to play a key role in this monumental project that is vital to France’s transportation network,” said Marc Rivard, executive vice-president, infrastructure engineering, SNC-Lavalin. “Once operational, the Grand Paris Line 18 will offer commuters a wide range of time-saving travel options in and around Paris and Orly while providing countless environmental benefits.”

Source and Link: The Construction Index

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.