Following the massive landslide that struck the Praz cliff in the Maurienne region in August 2023, the Department and Prefecture of Savoie, in collaboration with Sncf Réseau and Sftrf, have been securing the area. The work has proven more extensive than initially anticipated. At the end of July 2025, the railway company announced another postponement, explaining that newly discovered unstable cavities in the central part of the slope were larger than expected. This has necessitated additional drainage, anchoring, and fencing work, which are essential to ensure the safety of the underlying railway line, the A43 highway, and the RD 1006 road.
The Committee for the Maurienne Railway Service, which meets regularly to monitor progress, indicated that the line could reopen in the first quarter of 2025, barring any significant new geological risks. A team of experts, including professionals from the Department, Sncf Réseau, and the Service de Restauration de Terrains en Montagne, is evaluating the best technical solutions to stabilize the cliff and ensure the safety of technicians working at high altitudes.
The County Council has mobilized new resources to accelerate the work, employing over twenty rope access technicians from Citem, specialized in high-altitude and mountainous environments. These technicians work seven days a week, from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, constantly facing the risk of falling rocks or boulders from heights of over 200 meters. The safety of the workers and future users of the railway line is the top priority, influencing all technical decisions.
Currently, it is not possible to consider the resumption of railway services until the cliff's stabilization work has sufficiently progressed. Sncf Réseau will not be able to restore the infrastructure or resume train traffic without first ensuring the complete safety of the site.
