Bombardier to assemble trains for Belgian Rail 16/05/2008 00:00

Bombardier has landed a contract with Siemens which is managing the contract with NMBS.

16 May 2008

BELGIUM - The company Bombardier in Bruges will assemble new trains for Belgian Rail (NMBS).

Bombardier has landed a contract with the German group Siemens, which is managing the contract with NMBS.

The agreement was made when the contract for at least 300 trains was signed between Siemens and NMBS. The trains will be delivered from 2011 for the GEN Regional Express Network.

The yet-to-be-constructed GEN Regional Express Network is intended to improve connections from the Province of Flemish Brabant with Brussels and with the airport.

When the agreement between NMBS and Siemens was announced a month ago, workers at Bombardier held protest actions.

Bombardier made it clear that they wanted part of the contract. Otherwise, the company said, employment in Bruges could be in trouble.

Siemens will provide Bombardier with the carriage shell structures and Bombardier will then install all components and systems and deliver the trains to NMBS.

This will provide work (by Siemens) for 650 people in Belgium for one year. The company Alstom in Charleroi of Wallonia will also be involved in the contract.

[flandersenews.be / Expatica]

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