French train manufacturer Alstom is consolidating its activities in Belgium and Luxembourg into its French entity, according to business newspaper L’Echo.
At the same time, it is also parting ways with its Benelux CEO, Bernard Belvaux. “The new organizational structure will take effect on December 1 and reflects the close ties that exist between the sites and projects in the three countries.”
Consequences of missing the NMBS/SNCB order
According to L’Echo, the intervention cannot be viewed separately from the NMBS/SNCB’s decision to award an order for hundreds of new trains to the Spanish company CAF.
Alstom’s factory in Bruges currently produces M7 double-decker carriages for the Belgian railway company, but that contract expires in April. Without new orders, the site is at risk of coming to a standstill. The unions fear a possible closure.
Restructuring consequences for Charleroi, too?
In Belgium, Alstom has a head office in Brussels and a knowledge center in Charleroi. The future of Charleroi also remains a big question mark. In Fleurus, near Charleroi, it also has a service center or renovation depot for the Charleroi city tramway. Alstom Belgium employs around 1,900 people.
Bernard Belvaux had been Managing Director for the Benelux at Alstom since 2018, but he has a long history with the company. He previously served as Finance Director for Belgium and then VP Finance of the Southern Europe/AMECA region.
It was also announced earlier that Alstom will have a new CEO, Martin Sion, starting in April.
