Réseau Saint-Lazare
Réseau Saint-Lazare (French pronunciation: [ʁezo sɛ̃ lazaʁ]) is the network of railway lines originating from Saint Lazare Station in Paris.
The problem resided in the fact that lines crossed each other, creating unnecessary bottlenecks and hold ups.
World War I slowed expansion and the second bridge was only built in 1921, the year when a grave accident occurred in the Batignoles tunnel and precipitated its demolition.
The demolition of the tunnels as well as the transfer of the terminus of the line to Auteuil at Pont Cardinet freed up platforms at Saint-Lazare and increased tracks in the tranchée des Batignoles from eight to ten and split in five groups: An eleventh track, used for servicing, was built for reversing locomotives.
Many of the construction work on the lines were initiated to alleviate operational issues but steam traction meant that without remote driving or the locomotive, engines had to be turned around the train at termini.
A special commission had found that the Réseau État Saint-Lazare was in need of electrification on the railway lines to Saint-Germain, Versailles Rive Droite, Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche, Puteaux, Issy-les-Moulineaux and Argenteuil.
They were stabled at Rueil-Malmaison, Bois-Colombes and Champ de Mars and servicing was performed at La Folie.
From 1926, three trains served the Saint-Germain line: To maximise electrification efficiency, Bloc automatique lumineux signalling (BAL) tested between Rueil-Malmaison and Le Pecq followed by a widespread implementation on all the close suburb between 1924 and 1931.
A fourth track was also installed on a 6 km long stretch of line between Vernouillet and Les Mureaux.
It included the raising of the bridge of the Place de l'Europe situated above the platforms at Gare Saint-Lazare and lowering the tracks below the bâtiment des docks, offices situated above high numbered platforms, lengthening of the platforms allocated to intercity services and the construction of the state of the art signal box, poste tout relais à transit souple (PRS).
Trains operating in the Réseau Saint Lazare are maintained in several engine sheds or EMT:
