Henri Poupart-Lafarge, CEO of Alstom.

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MEIGNEUX ROMUALD / SIPA

  • Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge said on Wednesday that he intended to renegotiate the contract for the new RER B.

  • While a request for mediation with the RATP and SNCF has been requested, the transport companies refuse to take part.

  • "It would be unacceptable for an industrial group to take its customers and hundreds of thousands of Ile-de-France residents hostage," said Valérie Pécresse, president of the region and Ile-de-France Mobilités.

The tea towel is burning and delays in deliveries could be felt.

At issue, a dispute between Alstom, RATP and SNCF.

In mid-January, the Canadian Bombardier Transport, associated with the Spanish CAF, won the call for tenders for the renewal of 146 RER B trainsets. But having become Alstom's property at the end of January, Bombardier finds itself in the middle of an imbroglio.

Alstom, which in fact has recovered all of the group's contracts, expresses "doubts" and questions the nature of the contract with the Ile-de-France transport companies.

“From the start, Alstom has had doubts about the technical and financial viability of the offer made by Bombardier,” explained the CEO of the French group, Henri Poupart-Lafarge, on Monday on Franceinfo.

According to information from the

Parisian

, Alstom is even preparing to give up the contract.

For the time being, Alstom wishes to “renegotiate” the contract and has filed a mediation request with the administrative tribunal, in addition to numerous legal appeals already raised in recent weeks delaying the award, then the signing of the contract which was envisaged before its completion. takeover of Bombardier.

But the RATP and the SNCF today refuse to mediate.

20 Minutes

takes stock of this situation, which could be the beginnings of a long-term legal battle.

What is the nature of the contract?

The contract won by Bombardier and CAF concerns the supply to RATP and SNCF of 146 new trains intended for line B of the RER, for 2.56 billion euros financed by the regional authority Ile-de-France Mobilités.

Often described as a "mega-contract", this agreement should allow a major facelift of the often criticized line that is the RER B. And they are eagerly awaited.

In principle, they must be delivered in 2025. They are part of the “great emergency plan” of the RER B, according to Valérie Pécresse.

Faced with general discontent, the Ile-de-France region had indeed decided to set up "an investment of 3 billion euros to straighten out the RER B line", explained Valérie Pécresse, who had made in 2019, the travel in Alsace to the Alstom site in Reichshoffen, in the Bas-Rhin, with the operators RATP and SNCF.

What is happening at Alstom with this contract?

Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge said on Wednesday that he intended to renegotiate the contract for these new RER B. "I don't have a specific goal in mind" assured the CEO of Alstom at the Club de l economy of the world.

"We have great concerns about this project: on the technical and financial feasibility of the offer", he summed up, speaking of "a contract which [to them] seems badly started".

On Monday, Alstom filed a request for mediation with the administrative court.

“A contract like this lasts about ten years.

Before embarking on this adventure, sitting around the table for a fortnight, I find that it is not luxury, ”he underlined.

What are RATP and SNCF responding to?

RATP and SNCF said on Tuesday that they had refused the mediation requested by Alstom.

"The RATP / SNCF Voyageurs group is committed to the proper performance of this contract, essential for travelers in Ile-de-France, in compliance with the rules of public procurement, which do not allow renegotiating the firm offer submitted" , explained the two operators ”.

In addition, by confirming its last offer on January 4, less than a month ago, the Bombardier / CAF consortium has undertaken to execute it in the event of an award ", they noted in a joint press release" .

"Alstom has taken over all of Bombardier's contracts and commitments by buying the company", they underlined "My fear, and this is a fear shared by RATP, SNCF and Ile-de-France Mobilités, c 'is that these remedies are really causing us to take a lot, a lot of delay on the order, it would be to the detriment of travelers and that is not acceptable ”, deplores Valérie Pécresse.

Are delays possible?

With this filigree judicial serial novel, delays could indeed quickly occur.

And would threaten projects such as rail links between Paris and Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport and more generally the future of the RER B. “It would be unacceptable for an industrial group to take its customers and customers hostage. hundreds of thousands of Ile-de-France residents whose daily quality of life depends on the rapid arrival of the new RER B trains ”, declares Valérie Pécresse in a last press release, in which she reminds that Alstom“ must keep its word ”.

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  • RER

  • RATP

  • Alstom

  • Valerie Pécresse

  • Paris

  • Public transport