I-Trans Cluster

The Nord-Pas de Calais I-Trans rail transport cluster brings together 60% of French rolling stock production, with some fourty enterprises including such major integrators as Alstom, Bombardier and Arbel-Fauvet-Rail. Its marquee project is the creation of the largest European center for rail tests, and one of its key projects is the development of transport intermodality.

Region / Cities

Nord Pas-de-Calais, Picardie / Lille

Sector of activity

Railway construction

Budget

270 million euros in investment

Objectives

Create the first European cluster for the design, manufacture, competitive operation and maintenance of railway equipment and systems.
Develop:
- Existing railway markets : passenger and freight equipment, services
- New markets : tracks on concrete base, multimodal information systems, railway telematics
- Markets with high growth potential
- Contributions from companies working in partnership with the railway sector: automotive, logistics, inland waterways, coastal shipping
Create the biggest railway testing center in Europe, to attract private sector R&D activities in particular

Advantages offered by the cluster

Nord Pas-de-Calais, leading region for the railway industry with 11 000 jobs, and 100 manufacturers and suppliers
Second leading region for the automotive sector, third leading region for the logistics and transport sector

Main partners

Companies

44 companies, 15 000 jobs
Railway: Arbel Fauvet Rail, Alstom, Bombardier, Centre d’essais ferroviaires, Certifer, Delos, Enersys, Ermewa-Satis, Faiveley, Infodio, Neu SF, Odice, Railtech, RATP, RFF, SNCF, Sambre & Meuse, Sofanor, Stratiforme, Valdunes, VTG.
Associated sectors: Acteos, Amkey, Archimed, Atos, ATUF, CETIM, CRIIT M2A, Digiport, Durisotti, ESI Group, Eurotunnel, Gecom, IP4U, NFTI.o.u., Autonomous port of Dunkirk, Renault, Saint-Gobain, Valéo, Valutec, VB2S, Vibratech, Vistéon, Walan.

Research and training

19 organizations, 330 public sector research scientists
Lens International Chamber of Commerce, Valenciennes International Chamber of Commerce, CNRS, CREPIM, Lille Ecole Centrale School, Douai Ecole des Mines School, ENSCL, HEI, ICAM, INRIA, INRETS, ONERA, Artois University, Lille Science and Technology University, Côte d’Opale University, Valenciennes University and Hainaut-Cambrésis University, Picardie University and Compiègne University of Technology.