Alstom has announced an investment plan of over 150 million EUR for its French production sites.

The decision has been made in order to meet growing demands of both the French and international rail market, with the company noting an uptick in interest for very-high speed trains

A welder works on the Avelia Horizon production line at Alstom’s La Rochelle site

© Alstom

Following the announcement; the company is set to increase overall production capacity and mobilise its industrial base to meet demands, pouring investment into a slew of programmes across its sites.

20% of money invested will be contributed directly to the opening of a new Avelia very high-speed train assembly line at its facility in Valenciennes Petite-Forêt, marking the first time the vehicles will be manufactured at the site.

The company will also double carbody shell and assembly line production for the very high-speed trains, as well as continue investments into digitalisation and simulation with new software, such as its TrainLab technology, at its site in LaRochelle.

At its Belfort site, Alstom has stated plans to construct a brand-new, 250-metre building to prepare for the impending commercial launch of very high-speed trains, with the new facility capable of holding a complete Avelia Horizon trainset.

Elsewhere, the company also plans to invest in sites manufacturing components for Avelia units, including Petit Quevilly, Ornans, Tarbes, and Le Creusot, as well as introduce both robotisation and advanced welding technology.

Finally, Alstom will also commit to the hiring of a minimum of 1,000 new workers throughout France in 2025, increasing capabilities across the board.

Frédéric Wiscart, President of Alstom France, said:

The very high-speed market is currently experiencing strong growth and Alstom is delighted to see the growing interest in the Avelia Horizon double-deck high-speed train, a truly unique offering on the market.

This unprecedented programme for the Group will enable us to meet our current commitments and strengthen Alstom’s industrial base with innovative technologies stemming from Industry 4.0 to better serve customers.

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