GEC-Alsthom
GEC-Alsthom was an Anglo-French rail-traction manufacturing consortium formed in 1989 by the merger of the rail traction interests of the UK's General Electric Company and France's Alsthom — two of Europe's largest electrical engineering firms — creating a combined entity with manufacturing capacity in Britain, France, Belgium, Spain, and Germany and a product range covering electric and diesel locomotives, high-speed trains, and suburban rolling stock. The UK operations were centred on the heritage GEC Traction sites, principally the Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows acquired through GEC's earlier absorption of English Electric in 1968.
GEC-Alsthom's most significant UK product in the privatisation era was the Class 92 dual-voltage Channel Tunnel locomotive, built jointly with Brush Traction at Loughborough and capable of operating under 25 kV AC overhead in Britain and France as well as 750 V DC third-rail in the south-east of England — a technically complex machine purpose-built for the unique requirements of Channel Tunnel freight and passenger operation. GEC-Alsthom also contributed to the Washwood Heath works through its acquisition of Metro-Cammell in 1989, adding carriage manufacturing to its traction equipment capability.
GEC-Alsthom rebranded as Alstom in June 1998 following GEC's merger with Marconi, ending the joint identity and consolidating the rail business under the French-led Alstom brand that continues today as one of the world's leading rail manufacturers.
About
GEC-Alsthom was an Anglo-French rail-traction manufacturer formed in 1989 by the merger of the rail traction interests of the General Electric Company (UK) and Alsthom (France). It was rebranded as Alstom in 1998. The UK operations were concentrated at the heritage GEC Traction sites including the Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows (acquired through GEC's earlier purchase of English Electric).
UK products of GEC-Alsthom in the 1989–1998 period included the Class 92 Channel Tunnel locomotive (with Brush Traction) and various electrical sub-systems for British rolling stock. From 1998 the firm became Alstom UK with the rail traction business consolidated under that brand.
