THUNDER BAY — It took a long time but the former Bombardier Transportation plant in Thunder Bay has some new signs on the property showing it's now owned by Alstom.
The France-based company officially acquired the plant, along with other Bombardier Transportation facilities in Canada, at the end of January 2021.
Nearly a year later, the Bombardier signage remained on the property.
But during a visit to Thunder Bay in November, Alstom Americas CEO Michael Keroullé said the signs would be replaced "in a few weeks or months."
Over 18 months after the acquisition, signs bearing Alstom's name are now visible on the fence at the corner of Neebing Avenue and Montreal Street and over the main entrance.
In February of this year the company announced extended layoffs for most of the 400 workers employed at the plant at that time, until the plant begins work on 60 new streetcars for the Toronto Transit Commission and the refurbishing of 94 GO Transit rail coaches.
Recalls were to begin gradually by the end of summer or early fall, and continue through to March or April 2023.
Keroullé has stated that the two projects guarantee around 400 jobs at the plant for two years, and that they will bolster Alstom's efforts to secure larger contracts.
