Photo by: Duane Daws
Global rail group Alstom has completed its acquisition of a 51% interest in South African rail company Commuter Transport and Locomotive Engineering (CTLE) and would rebrand the Nigel-based train modernisation specialist as Alstom Ubunye.
Led by Alstom South Africa MD and now Ubunye’s new CEO Yvan Eriau, the new 400-employee addition, with an 80 000 m2 manufacturing facility, would undergo an integration process, with its structure reinforced and its portfolio broadened.
While the deal expanded Alstom’s presence in South Africa to “better address” the country’s and the Southern African region’s transport needs, the transaction would develop local competencies, with Ubunye benefitting from Alstom’s technology and expertise.
“The integration will extend the activities of Alstom Ubunye [to] include infrastructure, signalling, trains and components, as well as services to better address the region’s railway transport needs,” Alstom said in a statement on Wednesday.
CTLE was previously known as Union Carriage and Wagon, which had participated in building the rolling stock for the Gautrain project.
Commuter Transport Engineering and the Industrial Development Corporation, remained shareholders of the restructured group.