TenCate Bidim® Weed Stop Pro was selected for the renovation of a section of railway runway in France in collaboration with the French state-owned railway infrastructure company , SNCF Réseau, in 2020.

The unimpeded spread of plants constitutes a technical challenge in rail transport and requires regular treatment with plant protection products in order to guarantee the safe movement of trains and maximum safety for railway staff, passengers and maintenance personnel. Curbing the vegetation is a must to ensure visibility in bends and enable reliable maintenance. Laws restricting the use of phytosanitary products in some countries, such as France, demand an alternative solution to this issue.

SNCF Réseau approached TenCate Geosynthetics

The anti-weed fleece, which helps slow down plant growth, was installed directly on the soil under the tracks and along the runways and then covered with 2 to 3 centimeters of track sand. The material was installed by the company ETF from July to September 2020, mostly at night. The simplicity of installation means that work on the rest of the worksite could continue at the normal pace during the process.

The redesign included crossing opportunities for cars and pedestrians controlled by signals and barriers in the middle of the section. To ensure visibility and safety, the tracks and the runway must be kept permanently free of vegetation in each direction. This problem can neither be sustainably solved by mowing nor by treatment with herbicides.

SNCF Réseau manages and owns 30,000 kilometers of runway on the French rail network and sought an efficient solution. TenCate Geosynthetics was able to document and quantify the performance of TenCate Bidim® Weed Stop Pro solutions with regard to containing vegetation drawing on the results of a multi-year joint research program. So TenCate Bidim® Weed Stop Pro was chosen by SNCF Réseau to be installed on the section of the line between Angers and Saumur. 

TenCate Bidim® Weed Stop Pro for limited vegetation growth

The simplicity of installation means that work on the rest of the worksite could continue at the normal pace during the process. 

The anti-weed fleece, which helps slow down plant growth, was installed directly on the soil under the tracks and along the runways and then covered with 2 to 3 centimeters of track sand. The material was installed by the company ETF from July to September 2020, mostly at night.

TenCate Bidim® Weed Stop Pro excels with a unique continuous filament non-woven structure that limits vegetation growth and yet remains permeable to water. The products are manufactured in our factory using fine jets of water to bond the fibers to ensure the maximum integrity of the material.

The outstanding performance of TenCate Bidim® Weed Stop Pro eliminates the need for the use of herbicides and enables sustainable solutions in ecologically sensitive natural environments whilst ensuring the safety of railway users and the local population alike.

Sustainable containment of plant growth

TenCate Bidim® Weed Stop Pro – the alternative, ecofriendly solution 

  • natural and efficient growth retardant for undesirable vegetation 
  • no chemicals or herbicides 
  • higher safety than with thermal treatments 
  • long-term solution 
  • reduces fossil energy consumption 
  • lower labour costs 
  • applicable to large areas 
  • simple installation 
  • simultaneous implementation during construction work 
  • ultra-resistant, high tear and puncture resistance 
  • high water and air permeability 
  • does not fray 

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Content provided by:
Corinne Verges, Product Manager Non-Wovens EMEA