Belgian trade unions expressed alarm on Thursday over the national railway company SNCB’s decision to award a €3.4 billion contract for several hundred electric trains to Spanish manufacturer CAF, bypassing Alstom Benelux.
The 12-year contract, which was also contested by the Belgian subsidiary of the French group Alstom, has raised concerns about potential job losses and the future of key industrial sites in Bruges and Charleroi.
The FGTB Métal Hainaut-Namur and Setca Charleroi Métropole trade unions warned that the failure to secure the contract could jeopardize operations at Alstom’s Belgian facilities, which employ around 2,000 people.
In particular, the impact could be significant for Charleroi, where Alstom focuses on developing strategic rail technologies. The region has already been severely affected by industrial closures and restructurings in recent years.
Union leaders criticized the decision as a reflection of Belgium’s lack of a long-term industrial strategy. “This contract could have provided job security for thousands of workers and bolstered a strategic sector for the country,” a spokesperson for FGTB Métal stated.
“Instead, it exposes the absence of a coherent vision for the future of industry and employment in Belgium.”
The unions are demanding immediate assurances from SNCB and the government, including full transparency on the criteria used to select CAF over Alstom.
They are also seeking clear commitments regarding the future of the Bruges and Charleroi sites to prevent what they describe as a potential social catastrophe.
“Workers deserve to know on what basis this decision was made and what it means for their livelihoods,” said a Setca Charleroi Métropole representative.
“We cannot afford another blow to the industrial fabric of Wallonia, particularly in Charleroi, where the economy is still struggling to recover.”
On Wednesday, union representatives at Alstom’s Bruges site also voiced their disappointment with the outcome of the SNCB tender process.
They stressed that the contract loss could undermine the site’s long-term sustainability, which has been a significant employer in the region.
Alstom Benelux has not yet issued an official response to the decision. However, industry analysts noted that the contract’s value and scope represent a substantial opportunity for CAF to expand its footprint in Belgium’s rail sector.
The Spanish manufacturer, which has been making inroads across Europe, is expected to deliver a series of next-generation electric trains under the agreement.
SNCB has defended its choice, asserting that the selection process was transparent and based on a comprehensive evaluation of technical and financial criteria.
However, the unions remain unconvinced and are calling for an independent review of the decision-making process.
As tensions mount, political leaders in Wallonia are also pressing for explanations. Several regional officials have expressed solidarity with the unions’ demands for greater transparency and job security assurances.
The situation is expected to escalate unless SNCB and the federal government provide concrete guarantees regarding the future of the affected workers and industrial sites.
