Board Belgian railway postpones decision on billion-euro train deal with Spanish company
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 De Morgen.
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: the company employs 3,000 people at sites in Bruges and Charleroi. According to its CEO, its proposal was 100 million euros cheaper than that of CAF, while the overall score was only slightly in favour of the Spanish company. Alstom appealed to the Council of State, which decided in mid-April to suspend negotiations between SNCB/NMBS and CAF.
The SNCB/NMBS management nevertheless stuck to its choice of CAF, De Standaard reported on Friday morning. The board of directors, which includes several representatives of political parties, however decided on Friday afternoon that no negotiations with the Spanish company can be started for the time being.
Several sources told De Morgen that the decision had been postponed. The main reason for this is the nervousness about the threat of job losses at Alstom. Some board members are said to be insisting on a new tendering procedure, while others want to pass the decision on to the government. The issue is expected to be back on the table at a meeting in July.
Consequences for passengers
According to passenger association TreinTramBus, a delay in the tender would have major consequences for passengers. They would have to wait longer for new trains. Some trains in Belgium are already fifty years old and in urgent need of renewal, stressed the association.
Illustration © BELGA PHOTO BELGIAN_FREELANCE
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