Alstom has lost its High Court bid for an injunction to stop Eurostar buying new trains from Siemens, but the French-based company is not taking 'non'for an answer and has taken the matter to the European Commission. Alstom claimed in court in November that the Siemens e320'Velaro'trains, of which Eurostar has ordered ten in a ￡700m deal (RM Dec), would not comply with current Channel Tunnel safety rules and that Eurostar's procurement process was flawed. The Velaros use'distributed traction' (i.e.throughout the train) as opposed to 'concentrated traction'(power cars at each end) and are also shorter than Channel Tunnel safety rules require. However, judge Geoffrey Vos refused to grant an injunction pending a full hearing as he said it would cause significant delays to the train procurement process.
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