New site in French Ardennes: Les Ateliers de Vendeuvre acquire Rotondes de Mohon

“Les Ateliers de Vendeuvre” is a railway company, historically based in Aube region, that wanted to expand its business to include the manufacture and maintenance of wagons for transporting radioactive materials. French Ardennes was an early choice because of the availability of the Rotondes site, a former train maintenance facility.

Rotundas are maintenance facilities that were deployed throughout France and are now mostly disused. In Chambéry, the rotunda site has been transformed into a railway museum. Various studies have been carried out in French Ardennes region to redevelop the site from an urban planning or economic point of view, but no suitable solution was found. It is both a historic site (it is a landmark in the history of the eastern French railway particularly) and has value as a potential industrial site because of the space and facilities available – including, of course, the railway branch line.

The project leader, who was looking for an appropriate site, approached Ardennes Développement on the advice of SNCF Immo, to help him set up his business through the use of public support. For almost a year, the agency worked with various public bodies to come up with a coordinated response by the city, the conurbation and the State, in conjunction with SNCF Immo, commissioned by the various owners of the site belonging to the SNCF group. The project is thus designed around industrial development, while preserving part of the region's historic heritage. It is scheduled for completion in 2025. Particular care has been taken over the railway equipment belonging to SNCF Voyageurs and managed by SNCF Patrimoine. This equipment, which has been in storage for many years, will now be enjoying a second lease of life as it is going to various railway enthusiast associations. Some elements will remain in place to bear witness to the site's history.

French Ardennes is an industrial region, which implies both a commitment to modern production of sometimes quite heavy equipment, and the presence of historic sites that testify to the evolution of industry over the years. The Rotondes project is beneficial because it will generate economic activity by creating around twenty jobs, at the same time as restoring the iconic Rotondes site in Mohon.

©Jean-Michel BENOIT