According to sources familiar with the matter at hand, Alstom is likely to win antitrust approval from the European Commission to acquire Bombardier Inc’s rail business, in a deal that will position the French company as the world’s second biggest.

Earlier this month, Alstom had offered to sell a French rail factory, Coradia Polyvalent, and a Bombardier commuter trains division and the related production facilities at its Hennigsdorf site in Germany. The French TGV high-speed train maker had also proposed providing access to some products within Bombardier’s train control systems and signalling units to rivals as part of concessions in its bid to gain approval for the acquisition.

The Commission, which is scheduled to take a decision on the matter by July 31, declined to comment.

Bombardier and Alstom declined comment.

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