EUROSTAR has fended off a court challenge from the French train-builder Alstom, which had been trying to stop an order for ten Siemens trains from going ahead by arguing that there were safety issues.
Eurostar is planning to order ten Siemens Velaro trains worth a reported £525 million, which it wants to introduce on new routes in 2014 to cities such as Geneva, Lyon and Amsterdam.
The French company was claiming that Siemens trains would breach Channel Tunnel safety rules, and also challenged Eurostar's procurement process.
However, a High Court judge refused Alstom's application for an injunction this afternoon.
After the ruling, Eurostar said: "We are very pleased that the situation has been resolved and we can proceed to signing the contract for our new fleet of trains with Siemens.
"We have always been confident that we conducted a rigorous tender process and have chosen the best trains for our passengers.
"With our current fleet upgraded and our new fleet of trains in place we will be able to offer our customers a real alternative to taking the plane for short haul European travel.”