This is definitely the twists and turns file. Since this evening of September 21, 2021, when SNCF Gares et Connexions abruptly ended the Gare du Nord concession contract concluded with Auchan’s real estate subsidiary, Ceetrus, the story of the controversial and then aborted project to renovate the largest station of Europe continued rather discreetly before the courts. Refuting any breach, the dismissed dealer claims 345 million euros from the SNCF subsidiary before the administrative judge. Gares et Connexions is asking for compensation for the damage suffered. A third procedure is opened before the commercial court.
But now, thanks to a procedural hearing held on Thursday February 2 before the commercial court, the case is back with a bang on the front of the stage, while a first sentence of work, reviewed downward, has just started and must be completed for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In a 120-page document revealed by The Parisianand which THE World was able to learn, an expert appointed by the former Gare du Nord 2024 concessionaire draws the attention of the court “on discoveries concerning the state of the current station (…) which are likely to have an impact on the safety of property and people”.
In particular, it identifies two major risks: a risk of fire on the Eurostar boarding mezzanine. And a risk of falling pieces of the facade of a building that overlooks the tracks.
Mezzanine
Take this document as it is. It may have been used in legal proceedings, but it is not a formal expert report, like those requested by a judge during an investigation. It is actually a“a note of warning” commissioned by the company Gare du Nord 2024 (66% owned by Ceetrus) to be cleared of the breaches accused of by Gares et Connexions.
It is made up of two reports: a first report at the end of September 2022, and a second to complete it a few days before Christmas. In both cases, the expert, François Pinchon − public works engineer, expert approved by the Court of Cassation and the administrative courts of appeal of Paris and Versailles − acknowledges having worked only on documents, and not having gone to place.
Regarding the fire risk associated with plenum (space under the floor) from the mezzanine that leads to the Eurostar, he says he is surprised that he “not subject to immediate upgrading”. He was confronted with “a similar configuration in a technical plenum located between two floors in a 5-star hotel”, he explains. Gold, “the only solution required to avoid the closure of the establishment” been “upgrading this plenum to fire standards”with control of the safety commission.
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