LED railway lanterns for lighting, marking and staging!

Inspired by railway lanterns from the last century, the LED luminaires designed by Atelier Lumière and produced by LEC combine lighting for travel, marking for signaling, and a scenography of different colors to enliven the crossing. The LEC design office met the requirements of this specification with a unique, tailor-made creation. LEC, a specialist in LED lighting, demonstrates its ability to respond to ambitious lighting designs requiring advanced technical development. The "Promenade du Viaduc" has been open to the public since summer 2011.

In each lantern, several light effects!
LEC needed 6 months of development to create the two lantern models. Based on an identical design, each of the 2 luminaires combines two distinct effects: beaconing and peripheral lighting, or beaconing and elliptical lighting. These lighting effects are made possible thanks to the flexibility of using LEDs and LEC's expertise in combining them to achieve predefined optical results.

Elliptical lighting for pedestrian and bicycle traffic
Diffused by the lower part of the lantern, this extensive white lighting is intended for traffic in the tunnel. Also contributing to the railway lantern appearance, "swarm-stop" shutters block the light beam at the peripheral lighting. Thus, each lighting effect is confined within a specific perimeter.
This lighting is obtained thanks to 6 3 Watt LEDs.

Arc-shaped peripheral lighting to create a scrolling effect
The goal was to achieve an arc of light of equal intensity from the ground to the top of the vault. Numerous adjustments, tweaks, and on-site testing were required to achieve this result. Combining several LEDs of different colors in each lantern created a gradient effect across the entire structure.
This light effect was achieved using 12 3 Watt LEDs combined with specific optics.

Permanent green markings for signage
Obtained using a so-called "Fresnel" lens, which was used in some railway lamps, this light point gives the impression of being the same from the entrance to the exit of the tunnel. In reality, the more or less intense LEDs were carefully chosen and placed, depending on their proximity to daylight. They thus ensure a uniform visual continuity throughout the tunnel, in accordance with the lighting designer's requirements.
Made using a 1 or 3 Watt LED

Aadaptation to the constraints of the place
A tunnel is naturally subject to humidity and dust, so the lanterns have been made completely waterproof for optimal longevity. The light intensity varies depending on the location of the lanterns to achieve a uniform lighting effect throughout the tunnel.

Ua very economical lighting installation
Outdoor lighting projects are increasingly favoring the use of LEDs because they combine flexibility of implementation, longevity, and energy savings. Here, the total power of the lighting installation represents 1526 Watts, the equivalent of an electric radiator! The lifespan of the installation is estimated at 70 hours of use, or approximately 000 days of continuous use...
Presence detectors have been installed so that the lighting only turns on when visitors are present. Only the green beacons are permanently lit, and they are powered by solar panels.

Questions for Pierre Nègre of Atelier Lumière, lighting designer for the project.

Why choose LEC?
LEC has the capacity and expertise to design special products. They know how to tailor a solution, even for small quantities. Our geographical proximity simplifies our daily interactions!

How do you collaborate with them?
A lighting project is first and foremost an idea and a lighting concept, then we look for ways to technically complete the project. As a manufacturer, LEC comes in second. We come to them with our rendering ideas and sketches, and they help us develop the technical solutions.

Was the choice of LEDs obvious?
The use of LED technology is becoming increasingly common as its performance matures. It offers a wide range of colors, minimal footprint, reduced maintenance, and operating flexibility that is unmatched by the discharge lamps commonly used in street lighting.

Project history
This former 60-kilometer railway line once connected Le Vigan (Gard) to Tournemire (Aveyron). It took 11 years of work and 14 companies to build it, which ended in 1895. Passenger service included three trains per direction. In 3, the line carried 1922 passengers and 372 tons of goods per day. In 33, the passenger service was discontinued, and freight traffic continued until 000. The General Council acquired this line in June 1939 with the aim of creating a greenway between Arrê and Molières Cavaillac.

Press contacts
LEC - Heidi Pugniet-Boeck - 04 37 48 31 00 - hpb@lec.fr
The Town Crier - Arnaud DELATTRE - 06 61 24 31 59 - arnaud.delattre@lecrieurpublic.fr
Florentine Collette - 07 86 63 48 92 - florentine.collette@lecrieurpublic.fr