A new lease of life for air conditioning storage

In Périgueux, the Technicentre Industriel Charente-Périgord is the only one in France to maintain and dispatch air conditioning units for all passenger trains.

But with heatwaves on the increase, the site had to manage a combination of :

• blocks awaiting repair,
• and blocks ready for dispatch to the four corners of France.

As a result, storage capacity was further compromised, with a new heat peak expected as early as summer 2025.

To relieve congestion at the Technicentre, SNCF Voyageurs relied on collective intelligence: equipment operators and supply chain experts pooled their know-how. The result: an outsourced platform, located 40 km from the Technicentre, takes over.

From May to June 2025, stocks of ready-to-use air-conditioning units were gradually transferred there. The aim was to streamline logistics, speed up parts availability and prepare the ground for the first heatwaves.

By June 10, 2025, the platform had proved its worth in the first heatwave:

• 300 blocks shipped in just 14 days;
• 250 trucks chartered to supply maintenance sites.

A real baptism of fire, passed with flying colors, offering passengers comfort despite the heat.

Over and above passenger comfort, this solution also makes daily life safer and simpler for Technicentre teams: thanks to the space freed up, working conditions are also improved.

The result: improved air quality in the workshops for the crews, and cooler trains for passengers all summer long.