As widely expected, the board of directors of Belgian railway company NMBS/SNCB has placed its first order for 180 railcars with the controversial Spanish train manufacturer CAF. It concerns an order worth 1.7 billion euros.
The choice of CAF caused discontent among competitors such as Siemens and Alstom. At the same time, their involvement in Israeli infrastructure projects is highly controversial and has led to political pressure in Belgium.
MR30
The contract stipulates that the first carriages will enter service in 2030. The 180 motor cars will provide 54,000 seats. The entire framework agreement covers up to 170,000 seats.
The new carriages have been given the type designation ‘MR30’. “They will gradually replace the older rolling stock, which is more prone to defects,” according to NMBS/SNCB. “The trains will be independently accessible for people with reduced mobility and equipped with quiet zones, information screens, connectivity, and sufficient space for bicycles.”
The order also includes a battery-powered variant. These battery trains are intended to replace the current diesel railcars eventually. Railcars are trains with a built-in engine and therefore do not need to be pulled by a locomotive.
On UN list due to activities in illegal settlements
The decision to choose the Basque company CAF, which stands for Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, was not an easy one. Competitors Siemens and Alstom appealed to the Council of State but were unsuccessful.
Last week, Alstom’s management in Bruges announced plans to cut 150 jobs at the Bruges factory to adapt to market realities.
There was also political pressure on the appointment of CAF, not only because it did not consider employment opportunities in its own region, but also because the company is involved in two Israeli infrastructure projects, the Jerusalem Light Rail and the ‘Purple Line’ in Tel Aviv.
The former is causing major international and local controversy because the project connects West Jerusalem with Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and is seen as an ‘instrument of colonization.’ In September, the UN officially added CAF to the list of companies involved in activities in illegal settlements.
