The Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, and the General Manager of Alstom Transport Hungary, Balázs Gáspár, signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop Hungary’s railway sector leveraging Alstom’s innovative solutions and technological innovations.
“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. Alstom is committed to expanding its capacities in Hungary, in addition to creating new jobs. Alstom’s role in innovation, and research and development is important as the company developed world’s first hydrogen train, which could be an important element for the future of energy security,” Péter Szijjártó said.
The agreement, that was signed in the presence of the CEO of Alstom Henri Poupart-Lafarge, also provides the potential expansion of the Hungarian product range and increased manufacturing capacity as well as creating new, stable jobs and professional training.
“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
The agreement “is strengthening 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,” Henri Poupart-Lafarge said.
Alstom is present in Hungary for more than 20 years and the Matranovak site, where more than 650 people are working, is ensuring the production of bogie frames for various rolling stock including for the Coradia iLint hydrogen train. 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 Coradia iLint, the world’s first hydrogen-powered train.
In Hungary, Alstom built 27 Traxx locomotives which are now running across the country, 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.
In addition, at the end of 2021, Alstom and MOL signed a MoU to explore the use of hydrogen in rail transport.
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