It is a construction project that is perhaps a little more spectacular than most. Where excavators or cranes would normally be seen, a helicopter was in action on Monday in the middle of the countryside, around two kilometres from Goebelsmuehle station in Bourscheid. The reason is the difficult-to-access terrain where the work is taking place.
The aim is to protect the railway tracks against rockfalls and landslides. The work covers a 300-metre stretch where the tracks run through what resembles a small gorge, with slopes rising around five metres on one side and eight metres on the other.
Preparatory work had already been under way for several weeks before the helicopter arrived from a construction site in Paris. "We drilled around 200 holes and installed 200 anchors", said Tim Wildanger, environmental supervisor at national railway company CFL.
He pointed to metal rods protruding around 30 centimetres from the rock face. The anchors extend roughly two metres into the rock and will eventually be used to secure the steel mesh, according to Wildanger.
The mesh was already waiting nearby on Monday, laid out in a field not far from the railway line. Almost 40 rolls of wire mesh were ready to be installed, each weighing at least 150 kilograms.
Once the helicopter arrived, the operation moved quickly. "We have to work very precisely and keep an eye on the people on the ground", said Xavier Decroux, member of the helicopter crew, before climbing back into the aircraft.
The first roll was attached to the helicopter by a long cable. One after another, the rolls were then flown over the narrow strip of woodland separating the field from the railway line.
Just beyond the trees, the wire mesh was lowered onto the slope, where a team from an external company was waiting to receive it and secure it on the ground. The rolls then effectively unfurled themselves down the rock face towards the tracks.
"The mesh is being laid now. Afterwards, we will work on ropes and secure everything with cables and clamps", site manager Grégoire Collignon explained.
The helicopter's part of the operation was completed after just an hour, but work on the ground will continue for several more days.
The entire project is expected to be completed by the weekend, allowing train services on the northern line to return to normal from Monday.
