Business · Companies · 8 hrs ago
Alstom wins Bahia train contract after cheaper bid was revoked
Alstom Brasil Energia won a contract to build ten trains for the metro serving Salvador and Lauro de Freitas in Brazil’s Bahia state.
The Bahia government will pay R$632 million under the new deal.
It followed the state’s revocation of a 2025 tender won by China’s CRRC Changchun, which would have cost R$490 million.
The new contract is R$142 million more expensive than that earlier bid.
In 2019, Brazil’s competition authority found Alstom guilty of anti-competitive practices affecting at least 26 public tenders and fined it R$128 million, with a five-year ban on bidding.
Alstom says a court injunction obtained in 2020 suspends the effects of that decision while it seeks judicial review.
The Bahia government did not comment, and no further steps were specified.
Alstom Brasil Energia won a Bahia state contract to build ten trains for Salvador’s metro for R$632 million.
The award came after the state revoked a cheaper tender won by China’s CRRC Changchu.
The earlier bid was worth R$490 million for trains intended for the Salvador and Lauro de Freitas metro system.
In 2019, Brazil’s competition authority convicted Alstom over anti-competitive practices affecting at least 26 public tenders.
Alstom says a court injunction obtained in 2020 suspends the effects of that administrative decision.
- Who
- Alstom Brasil Energia won the contract. The earlier tender was won by China’s CRRC Changchu.
- What
- Bahia awarded Alstom a contract to build ten trains for R$632 million.
- When
- Alstom won the new tender in October 2026. The earlier tender was revoked in August 2026.
- Where
- Bahia, Brazil; the trains are for the metro serving Salvador and Lauro de Freitas.
- Why
- The state revoked the earlier, cheaper tender before signing its contract and held a new tender. The sources do not state why it revoked the first tender.
Alstom
Brazil’s competition authority
Tender decision
Alstom
Alstom won the new tender after the state revoked the cheaper tender.
Brazil’s competition authority
The sources do not state the authority’s view of the Bahia tender.
Cartel case
Alstom
Alstom says it sought judicial review and obtained an injunction in 2020 suspending the effects of the authority’s decision.
Brazil’s competition authority
In 2019, the authority convicted Alstom over anti-competitive practices affecting at least 26 tenders and fined it R$128 million.
Brazil’s competition authority convicted Alstom over anti-competitive practices affecting at least 26 tenders and fined it R$128 million.
Alstom obtained a preliminary injunction that it says remains in force and suspends the effects of the authority’s decision.
Bahia held the first tender, won by CRRC Changchu.
Bahia revoked the first tender before the contract was signed.
Alstom won the new tender for R$632 million.
- Train order
- 10 trains
- New contract
- R$632 million
- Earlier bid
- R$490 million
- Earlier tender winner
- CRRC Changchu
- Competition authority fine
- R$128 million
What people are saying
Alstom maintains a robust compliance program and remains firmly committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in conducting its business