Alstom, the French train manufacturer, has announced plans to close its plant in Görlitz, Germany, by the end of March 2026. This decision, affecting approximately 700 employees, is part of a larger restructuring of the company’s German operations, with production set to move to Eastern Europe.
Major restructuring across German sites
The closure of the Görlitz facility is just one part of Alstom’s comprehensive reorganization plan. At the Henningsdorf site, the company will cease the production of new vehicles, with ongoing projects being transferred to facilities in Bautzen and Salzgitter. However, Henningsdorf will be transformed into a “key location for central growth areas in digitalization and service,” according to Alstom. The site will consolidate service operations – including repair and maintenance – from the Görlitz, Mannheim, and Kassel locations, with Alstom stating that the workload in Henningsdorf will not decrease.
Impact on other locations and future prospects
The Mannheim site will focus on growth areas in digitalization and development, with one factory building slated for sale. Development work and project management for alternative drive technology will be relocated to France, while Kassel will remain a production site. René Straube, the general works council chairman and works council chairman for the Görlitz site, described the decision as “very bitter” and expressed concerns about potential quality losses due to the relocation abroad. Currently, the Görlitz plant produces double-decker carriages for Israel, among other projects.
Alstom has revealed that confidential discussions are underway with an industrial partner regarding potential involvement at the Görlitz site. The company aims to create a sustainable perspective for industrial jobs. These plans have been known for some time and have now been published in detail. Despite the restructuring, Alstom maintains that the workload at the Henningsdorf site will not decrease, even though ongoing projects will be transferred to other locations.
