French train manufacturer Alstom plans to cut 150 jobs at its factory in Bruges from mid-2026. Earlier this year, Alstom lost out on a large train order from the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB, which opted for the Spanish company CAF. The unions feared that this would lead to job losses at the Bruges factory, possibly even spelling its end, a fear that is now set to become reality.

At a special works council meeting, the management decided to implement “organizational changes” at the factory in Bruges. The information and consultation phase is now starting in accordance with the Renault law, which may lead to a final decision. The company says it “must adapt to market realities and align its resources accordingly.”

A quarter of the staff will be laid off

Alstom Bruges, formerly Bombardier, employs 585 people: 487 on permanent contracts and 98 on temporary contracts. An evaluation will now be carried out to determine how the company can redeploy as many employees as possible within the group.

“Alstom will engage in constructive dialogue with employee representatives and ensure that all legal and social obligations are met,” said the management. There will be no consequences for the Charleroi site, where approximately 1,500 people work.

Financial healthy

At the group level, Alstom is financially healthy. The Belgian branch is also profitable and posted good sales figures. For 2025, sales of 794 million euros and a profit of 41,7 million euros are expected.

However, the Bruges site mainly relies on NMBS/SNCB orders, such as the construction and testing of the M7 double-decker carriages. Still, that contract expires in 2026, and there are currently no equivalent new orders on the horizon.

Alstom also carried out an organizational restructuring in October. Its activities in Belgium and Luxembourg were integrated organizationally under the leadership of Alstom’s French organization, which has a strong order book, especially in high-speed trains, for example, but with no plans for production transfer. In this context, Bernard Belvaux was thanked for his services as Benelux director, as the role no longer exists in the new structural model.

No staff actions

“Of course, we had expected something,” says Pascal van Hove of the socialist trade union ABVV in a response to the Belga press agency. “But an announcement like this always hits hard.”

“According to the management, the failure of the large NMBS/SNCB train order is not the reason for the decision, although I, for my part, naturally have my doubts. We were told that management wants to make Alstom a healthy company again and focus more on maintenance and renovation work.”

Industrial action by staff is not on the agenda. “We want to work constructively toward a solution and sit down at the negotiating table.”

‘Sad wake-up call’

The Voka West Flanders business network has called the announced layoffs at Alstom in Bruges a “sad wake-up call”. According to Voka, this is yet another sign that the manufacturing industry in Flanders is under pressure.

Voka believes that the government bears some responsibility. “We note that by not opting for local production, our governments are not only jeopardizing the employment and future of our manufacturing companies but also undermining confidence in the entire industrial fabric of our region,” says Voka.

For Agoria Vlaanderen, the Flemish sector federation for technology companies, it is “particularly painful to see another Flemish manufacturing company affected.” “Our Flemish industry already lost 6,500 jobs last year. We cannot afford to lose any more technical talent, especially since every job lost in industry also indirectly affects other jobs in the chain.”