There are rumours international train manufacturer Alstom, which has a workshop in Ballarat, could buy Canadian train and plane builder Bombardier's rail division.
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In Ballarat, Alstom builds metropolitan train carriages, while Bombardier has a regional train maintenance facility in Ballarat East.
It also has sites across Victoria, and is based in Dandenong - Bombardier constructed the V/Locity carriages currently in service on the V/Line network, as well as the latest Melbourne trams.
Internationally, Bombardier sold its commercial aviation business this week, with foreign media reporting Airbus now owns a majority stake in its A220 program.
Multiple reports are speculating that Bombardier's rail division could also be sold, potentially to Alstom.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday noted the sale of the commercial aviation division was to pay down a "massive debt" - the company had posted an annual loss of CA$1.6 billion, releasing its financial results for 2019 on Thursday.
The government of Quebec is retaining 25 per cent of the commercial aviation division.
As reported by CBC, Bombardier chief executive Alain Bellemare said the company is "looking at our options".
"The reason why we're looking at strategic options is to accelerate deleveraging of the business - the strategy was always to exit commercial aircraft while protecting jobs," he said in a call with analysts this week, it was reported.
Canada's Financial Times reported several "industry sources" said Alstom's board had met this week to discuss buying the rail division - quoting French television station BFM, Bombardier's rail division had been valued at "just under US$7 billion".
The article also notes Reuters reported last month that Bombardier had approached Alstom and Japan's Hitachi to find a merger partner for its rail business.
It is unclear what the speculated deal, should it go through, could mean for jobs in Australia, or Ballarat specifically - right now, Alstom is working on a design for the X'Trapolis 2.0 metropolitan train, and is negotiating with the state government.
Unions fear more than 60 jobs could be lost at the Ballarat site, or the 103-year-old factory could close, if a new contract is not signed.
READ MORE ON ALSTOM:
- Negotiations continue between company and state government, workers 'in limbo'
- Unions maintain strong numbers at Alstom rallies in Ballarat
- Workers vow to rally every fortnight until state government acts
- Workers to rally at MP's office, demanding answers
- Unions to call motion at ALP state conference
- Ballarat Alstom workers protest state government
- Ballarat Alstom jobs still at risk, no action from state government
Workers are currently completing the previous order of five new six-carriage train sets, but unions say a deal is needed to retain workers until work can begin on the new trains.
Unions have led workers at several protests held in the past 12 months, outside the factory and at state Labor MP offices, calling for action on the new contract to provide certainty.
Several casual workers on the current project will be finishing in Ballarat at the end of February, with fixed term workers expected to finish in April at the completion of the project.
The state government has consistently said it is assessing the design of the X'Trapolis 2.0 submitted by Alstom, and reiterated its previous commitment to building five sets of trains in Ballarat.
An Alstom spokesperson declined to comment on the speculation regarding Bombardier.
Bombardier in Australia was contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline.
The state government was also emailed for comment but did not respond.
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