Alstom has confirmed it filed a claim in the High Court in London on October 19 and is seeking an injunction to stop the signing of the Euros 600 million contract for 10 e320 Velaro trains (pictured), which was due to take place on Monday. Alstom believes the contract cannot be concluded by Eurostar because it does not comply with the existing safety rules in the Channel Tunnel. The company claims it was told by Eurostar at the beginning of the tender process that a deal would not be concluded until the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) has made a final decision on whether to permit the use of trains with distributed power in the tunnel. "Any signature of the contract is premature as the safety rules have not yet been modified," an Alstom spokesperson said. However, the IGC has indicated it has no objection to distributed power, provided traction equipment is fitted with fire detection and extinguishing equipment that is compliant with tunnel safety regulations. A spokesperson for Eurostar told IRJ that the allegations made by Alstom are "without foundation" and that Siemens was chosen because it's bid was "significantly better" in a number of key areas. Alstom questions both the grading of bids and the evaluation techniques used by Eurostar. Eurostar says all bids were fairly and objectively evaluated against a comprehensive set of criteria. On Monday a European Commission (EC) source told Reuters that there had been "no problem" with the way Eurostar had conducted the procurement process. Both bidders offered trains with distributed traction, and Alstom's bid was based on its latest generation AGV. According to Eurostar, Alstom made no objection during the tender process to consultation proposals by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority (CTSA) on updating operating rules. In a separate development, the head of the French delegation to the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority, Mrs Françoise Deygout has been ousted from her position after just four months. She has been replaced by Mr Michel Aymeric, who was previously chief inspector of the French Public Institution of Railway Safety (EPSF). The French government has openly condemned Eurostar's decision citing safety concerns relating to the use of distributed traction. A full report on Eurostar and German Rail's plans for international services to London will appear in the November edition of IRJ.
