The inter-union of the Alstom site in Reichshoffen (Bas-Rhin) on Tuesday expressed its concern about the “
sustainability
” of this regional train assembly platform, which the industrialist is forced to sell to respect competition rules.
Read also: Why the controversial sale of Alstom to General Electric is again talking about it
After the announcement of its intention to buy the Canadian group Bombardier Transport, the French railway manufacturer Alstom was forced to sell the Reichshoffen site and its 780 employees, to meet the requirements of the European competition authorities.
The sustainability of the site "compromised", according to the unions
In a press release published on Tuesday, the intersyndicale (CGT, FO, CFE-CGC) believes that the sustainability of the site is "
compromised by Alstom's desire to restrain possible developments
".
The unions judge that "
the site clipping decided by Alstom
" does not respect European rules, in particular as regards the "
necessary viability and competitiveness of the divested activities
".
Their grievances are based on the hydrogen engine, a technology developed at the Tarbes site (Hautes-Pyrénées) that Alstom does not intend to sell, but which forms part of the trains assembled at Reichshoffen.
"
Hydrogen expertise will remain at Alstom, that's very clear, since we are the only ones in the world to have developed
" this technology, Christopher English, Alstom's communications director, told AFP.
"
And we will work with the future buyer to provide him with the hydrogen engine as part of an upcoming order, which is currently under discussion with the regions and SNCF
".
This order should be placed in at least two stages, with the first 14 trains ordered by four regions, a “
pre-series
”, the assembly of which is planned at Reichshoffen with the hydrogen traction chain developed by Alstom.
For future orders, the trains should be produced by a consortium, still with hydrogen engines developed by Alstom, but with assembly carried out under a new entity, that of the buyer, in Reichshoffen.
"
What we fear is that Alstom
", in a situation of monopoly on hydrogen technologies, "
has all the cards in hand to sell us their powertrain at any price, or refuse to provide it
”, and thus puts in difficulty the buyer of the Reichshoffen site, explained to AFP the secretary of the CSE of the site, Daniel Dreger.
The Alstom spokesperson assured him that the French group is "
willing
" to continue to supply the Reichshoffen site with its hydrogen engines in the future.
