For almost 100 years, the plant has been at the forefront of train manufacturing, delivering projects ahead of time for ever-growing public transport systems.

However, behind the results sit generations of employees who have started their careers at the facility, learning the skills and trades needed in the industry.

While some have taken these skills elsewhere, some like Alstom site supervisor Peter Walls, who has worked in the industry for 23 years, don't know anything different.

"I love it. Rail is in my blood," he said.

The facility has become some thing of a Ballarat institution, with many residents knowing someone who has either worked at or is still working at the plant.

Employees currently fit out Metro trains from start to finish, with the shell of the train coming all the way from Europe to the Ballarat facility.

Unlike Mr Walls, apprentice electrician Damian Anderson is relatively new to the industry, only starting at Alstom two-and-a-half years ago.

"It has been awesome. It has been a great opportunity, it really has been," he said.

"I have dabbled in university in my earlier years and it is just great to be learning again. I love it.

"There are a fair few people that have been here for a number of years but everyone just seems to fit in naturally and it doesn't really matter how long you have worked here."

Apprentice fitter and turner Ron Wakeling's apprenticeship is due to finish around the same time as the end of the current Metro train contract Alstom is working on.

While Mr Wakeling said he was worried about the future of the facility, he wanted to keep working there.

".... we all try and keep in good spirits," he said. "It is out of our control as workers."

Mr Walls described himself as a history buff of the facility and his passion for the rail industry is well known among workmates.

"I really pray that we can get another contract and just keep building trains and keep going on and on; it would be sad if it doesn't happen," he said.

Production manager Glen Jones believes the local manufacturer can match it with any overseas competitor, having seen them first-hand on training trips.

"I think that is one of things, we can match it with them, and one of our biggest pluses is the blokes on the production line, they are what carries us," he said.

"They do a terrific job. They are highly skilled people who take a lot of pride in their work."

Alstom plant could close as early as next year

ALSTOM’S Ballarat manufacturing plant could close as early as next year as employees wait to hear from both sides of politics if they are still a chance to win a contract to build new metro trains. 

However, it has been widely reported the company has been cut from the competitive tender to build 25 new trains as part of a multibillion-dollar upgrade of the Dandenong rail corridor.

It is also believed the fight to build the 25 trains now sits between two Asian rail giants.

The plant has been at risk of closure previously, with the facility forced to wait until an election cycle before hearing of the potential for any new contracts. 

In response to the reports, Alstom spokesman Sheldon Young said the manufacturer would continue to build trains to the highest quality and emphasised no decision had been made about the future of the Creswick Road plant. 

“At this point in time, we have visibility of manufacturing until July 2015 but we don’t have much visibility beyond July,” he said. 

“Failure to secure additional work would place the facility at risk.”

Employees at the facility have previously told The Courier of low morale due to the impending fear of job losses at the plant. 

Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union state organiser Peter Douglas said the employees had only recently met with Alstom management to discuss the issue. 

“Obviously people don’t know if they have a job past June,” he said.

“You have a situation where people are looking for other work.”

Mr Douglas said he believed this could create further problems, with employees with specific skills needed to manufacture the last of the current contract of trains considering leaving the facility. 

He also said he believed governments needed to invest in public transport across their four-year terms rather than leaving it until the last year of government. 

“There are a lot of trains needed to be built around Australia at the minute. We just need a government to commit to Australian manufacturing,” he said.

‘Way of life’ on the line for long-time worker

GLEN Johns followed in the footsteps of his father and uncle and started in the train manufacturing industry at the age of 16.

"It was interesting. I used to come here a bit with dad back then," he said.

"It was very different back then, a lot more people and the work was very different."

Now a production manager at Alstom, Mr Johns has seen the ups and downs of the facility in his 30 years as an employee, as well as the changeover between companies buying and selling the plant.

He has also spent time overseas seeing how other companies manufacture trains.

"There has been some people go through here who have gone on to start their own businesses locally, and successful businesses," Mr Johns said.

"It is a very good skill base because it is on the same line as aircraft it is very high level, very process-driven, which not all outside industry is."

Having seen hundreds of employees come through the gates, Mr Jones said in his mind he could not see a day when the facility might have to close.

"The year I started, in 1985, it was the first lot of redundancies; it has sort of been closing since 1985," he said.

"It is very hard to take. Everyone is worried about their future and what the next part is going to be.

"For me, it has put my kids through school, it pays the bills and it is a way of life really."