This news strengthens the position of the Charleroi factory within the international group still further.

An order for 600 passenger trains, comprising 3,600 carriages, to be supplied between 2015 and 2025: this is the largest contract ever placed in the rail sector.

Signed by PRASA (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) and Gibela (which amongst others includes South African parastatal bodies and Alstom as 61% shareholder), this contract is excellent news for the Charleroi factory where Alstom employs over 1,100 people.

The group's centres of excellence and expertise in Charleroi will be responsible for developing a new 3kV auxiliary converter and five types of low voltage cabinets for the power electronics part. The Charleroi site is also involved in building a manufacturing factory to the east of Johannesburg. It will also supply ETCS signalling systems, its speciality.