This is despite arch-rival Siemens winning in the previous bidding from Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand.

Alstom, whose urban rail vehicles account for 60 per cent of those in the world, has already provided the track work and ventilation system for Bangkok's underground. It is now seeking local partners for the coming bids.

Alstom hopes to sell a whole package of products and services, from signalling and control systems to station equipment, and from rolling stock to depot and maintenance facilities, Mellier said yesterday.

Marc Chatelard, senior vice president of Asia-Pacific, believes Alstom offers the most comprehensive metro system and a consistent team of technicians and experts.

"The problem with some of our competitors is that many of their teams are scattered about after a project or two - getting promoted, for example," said Chatelard. "Our teams move together, going from this work to another."

He believes clients benefit from the continuity in standards.

Mellier added that Alstom had just relocated a whole team of French technicians to a new factory in Changchun in Northwest China for a project there.

In China alone, the Alstom investment for the 2006 to 2010 period is expected to reach ¤125 billion (Bt5.54 trillion), revenues coming mostly from network extension as well as train upgrades.

 With a 31-per-cent increase in booked orders from 2005, or ¤14.3 billion, Alstom has been diversifying its businesses into the Asian, Latin American and Eastern European markets. It now looks to India and China to spread the risk.

Mellier said Alstom had experienced zero growth in Germany last year. In Hungary, the company recently lost the tender to build an electronic network for Budapest's fourth metro line to Siemens. Yet, in a quantum leap, Alstom will invest ¤62 billion to ¤85 billion in India over the next 15 years.

The metro market is worth about ¤6.3 billion - 9 per cent of the overall rail market.

Mellier said the firm would also concentrate on small and medium-sized business. Chatelard cited the ¤100-million track work and ventilation systems for Bangkok's MRT system as an example.

"We don't just look to mega-projects. We do smaller ones that don't get into newspapers too," he said.

Responsible for providing the electrical and mechanical systems for the rail line, Alstom is set to complete Singapore's automatic, driver-less Circle Line by 2010.

Ki Nan Tsui

The Nation