The board of Belgian railway company SNCB/NMBS has postponed the decision on the appointment of a preferred bidder for a billion-euro order for new trains. The reason for this is political nervousness about possible job losses at competitor Alstom in Bruges, reports 24brussels.
SNCB/NMBS had previously decided to negotiate with the Spanish train manufacturer CAF for the delivery of hundreds of new MR30 motor trains. The contract is worth between 1.7 and 3.4 billion euros. Siemens and Alstom also submitted bids for the public tender but were unsuccessful.
The decision was particularly unpopular with the French company Alstom, which employs 3,000 people at its sites in Bruges and Charleroi. According to its CEO, Alstom’s proposal was 100 million euros cheaper than that of CAF, with the overall score only slightly favoring the Spanish company. Alstom appealed to the Council of State, which decided in mid-April to suspend negotiations between SNCB/NMBS and CAF.
Despite the appeal, SNCB/NMBS management maintained its choice of CAF, according to reports from De Standaard. However, the board of directors, which includes representatives of various political parties, determined that no negotiations with the Spanish company can proceed at this time.
Several sources indicated that the decision had been postponed mainly due to concerns over potential job losses at Alstom. Some board members advocate for a new tendering procedure, while others believe the decision should be passed on to the government. This matter is expected to be revisited at a meeting in July.
Consequences for Passengers
According to passenger association TreinTramBus, a delay in the tender would significantly impact passengers, who would have to wait longer for new trains. Some of Belgium’s trains are already fifty years old and are in urgent need of replacement, the association emphasized.
