The auditor of the Belgian Council of State has recommended that the decision by the national railway company SNCB to award a major train contract to the Spanish manufacturer CAF be suspended, according to public broadcaster VRT NWS. The contract, worth €3.4 billion, involves the construction of hundreds of new trains.
CAF was the preferred bidder in a European tender process launched by NMBS. The decision was greeted with great disappointment by Belgian train manufacturer Alstom, which has a major plant in Bruges. Alstom had submitted a bid that was reportedly almost as technically strong as CAF’s and more cost effective.
Employment benefits overlooked
The Belgian company challenged the outcome before the Council of State, arguing that the impact on local employment in Bruges had been unfairly overlooked – a point echoed by several political voices.
The Council of State has now held a hearing on Alstom’s request to suspend the decision. During the session, the Council’s auditor issued a non-binding recommendation in favour of suspending SNCB’s appointment of CAF. Although the Council is not obliged to follow the auditor’s advice, it usually does so. A final decision is expected within one to three weeks.
