Alstom and the Government of Hungary have signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement
Alstom and the Government of Hungary have signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement
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Anna Zaluska
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This milestone strengthens relations between Alstom and the Hungarian Government, and opens new opportunities for partnerships.
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The agreement confirms Alstom’s commitment to further develop Hungary's economy and international competitiveness.
14 October 2022 – Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, and the Government of Hungary announced today that they have signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement in Budapest, in the presence of Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Alstom CEO, Balázs Gáspár, General Manager of Alstom Transport Hungary Zrt, and on behalf of the Hungarian Government, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The agreement reinforces Alstom’s engagement, which has been present in Hungary for decades, in enhancing the performance of the Hungarian economy and increasing its international competitiveness.
Both parties intent is to further strengthen cooperation with regards to the development of the transport industry, leveraging Alstom's innovative world-class solutions and technological innovations, potential expansion of the Hungarian product range and increased manufacturing capacity; as well as creating new, stable jobs and professional training.
Péter Szijjártó underlined that in the current severe economic crisis, it is extremely important to maintain economic growth, to gain investors’ confidence and attract new investments from large international companies. He also highlighted Alstom’s role in innovation, and research and development, highlighting the company’s development of the world's first hydrogen train, which could be an important element for the future of energy security. Therefore cooperation in this field could lead to furthering this collaborative partnership.
“I am really pleased by the signature of this Strategic Cooperation Agreement between the Hungarian Government and Alstom. It will strengthen the development of Hungary's railway sector, economy and international competitiveness. I believe that with this Strategic Agreement signed today, there is much more innovations coming to Hungary, with Alstom.”
“I am really pleased by the signature of this Strategic Cooperation Agreement between the Hungarian Government and Alstom. It will strengthen the development of Hungary's railway sector, economy and international competitiveness. I believe that with this Strategic Agreement signed today, there is much more innovations coming to Hungary, with Alstom,” said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Alstom CEO.
“Over many years, Alstom has proven that we are a committed partner in creating sustainable mobility in Hungary and increasing the performance of the Hungarian economy. The Strategic Cooperation Agreement we have just signed will strengthen our relations, raise them to a higher level and open up new opportunities for partnership,” said Gáspár Balázs, General Manager of Alstom Hungary. “We have been present in Hungary for more than 20 years. We can be proud that the bogies for the world’s first hydrogen train are produced in our Matranovak Site!”
For decades, Alstom has been a significant, stable player in the Hungarian transport industry and a key employer in Nógrád County. Alstom’s Matranovak site, that currently employs more than 650 people, offers stable, sustainable positions with multiple career opportunities. The site produces bogie frames for various rolling stock, such as high-speed trains, suburban trains, locomotives and double deckers. This year, thanks to continuous investment and development, the range of bogie frames has been extended and now the site in Nógrád County is also producing this important component for Alstom’s Coradia iLint, the world’s first hydrogen-powered train, which is a major innovation in rail transport.
The Coradia iLint, manufactured by Alstom, entered into commercial service in 2018 and is now also operating in Bremervörde, Lower Saxony, Germany since August, 2022. During the course of September, the train successfully travelled 1,175 kilometres without refuelling the hydrogen tank. Hungary's interest in this solution was shown when MÁV-Start initiated a public pre-market consultation for the procurement of hydrogen fuel cell trainsets on 23 August, which could pave the way for the domestic application of the new technology.
Alstom's presence in the Hungarian rail transport sector is significant. The company built 27 Traxx locomotives which are now running in Hungary, and also upgraded 59 MÁV-Start trains to meet the strict European standards ETCS board equipment, enabling these trains to reach a top speed of 160 km/h.
To improve continuously, Alstom has launched its world-class training programmes, first for welders in 2018 and now for fitters as of this autumn at its own local training centre, also qualified by the Nógrád County and National Chambers of Commerce.
Alstom™, Coradia™, Coradia iLint™ and TraxxTM are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.
