Off the wire
• News Analysis: Conflict in eastern Ukraine far from over despite positive trends  • 1st LD Writethru: Philippine president threatens to "break up" with U.S.  • Interview: Ethiopia-Djibouti railway sets new model for China-African cooperation  • Albania to start construction of road to Macedonia in spring 2017  • Urgent: Iran's security forces kill 12 militants in border region  • WikiLeaks to release new material in coming months  • E-commerce, drone tech seen as new hope for postal sector  • U.S. stocks open higher amid Fed speakers, Deutsche Bank concerns  • Kenya launches organic product to fight aflatoxin in maize  • Urgent: 5.5-magnitude quake strikes Japan's southern Chichijima region: JMA  
You are here: 　 Home

French gov't orders high-speed trains to avoid Alstom's Belfort shutdown

Xinhua, October 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

The French government on Tuesday announced an order for high-speed trains in a move to bolster the production of Alstom, France's leading train manufacturer, and avoid the shutdown of its Belfort factory.

At a meeting with local officials and trade union representatives in the eastern city of Belfort, French Minister of State for the Industry, Christophe Sirugue, said the government was ordering 15 high-speed TGV trains in addition to six TGV trains for the Paris-Turin-Milan line.

The plan to maintain the railway and industrial activities on Belfort site also included an order for 20 shunting locomotives.

Under the plan, the state and Alstom will invest 70 million euros (78 million U.S. dollars) to transform Belfort site into a maintenance center for the European market.

"Thanks to the government's mobilization, and the commitment of all, Alstom's Belfort site is saved," Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in a tweet.

Alstom has announced a plan to stop activities at Belfort site, northeastern France, by the end of 2018 to manage overcapacity.

The state maintains 20 percent of Alstom stakes. (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars) Endit