Brussels, 04/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - On 26 October, the European Commission asked the UK authorities to respond to allegations by Alstom that the purchase by Eurostar of Siemens high speed trains infringed EU public procurement rules.
The spokeswoman for Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier is quoted by Reuters on Wednesday 3 November as saying that the Commission was awaiting the response from London and would decide as quickly as possible on the appropriate action to take with regard to the complaint lodged by Alstom. On 18 October, the Commission said that, on the basis of the information at is disposal, the choice by Eurostar posed no problems in terms of tendering.
At the start of October, Eurostar, which is the exclusive operator of Channel tunnel rail services for passengers between London, Paris and Brussels, chose German firm Siemens to supply 10 next generation high-speed trains in preference to its usual supplier, French company Alstom. The deal was worth some €600 million.
Alstom also claims that the Siemens train does not meet Channel tunnel safety rules. The traction system under the carriages, rather than two units at the front and the back of the train, has not been authorised by France because of the increased risk of fire and derailment it carries. In addition to the complaint lodged with the Commission, Alstom has lodged an initial complaint at the High Court in London, which last week turned down its application to block the deal. The second group is expected to lodge a second action in London to examine the detail of the call for tenders.
The French government has been critical of the choice made by Eurostar, which is 55% owned by SNCF (French Railways), arguing that the contract with Siemens was not valid as it did not comply with current safety rules. Paris points out that trains must measure at least the distance between two tunnel emergency exits. The German trains do not meet this requirement.
The Commission stated last month that Channel tunnel safety regulations were not an EU matter. These rules, put in place by the Franco-British intergovernmental commission which governs the operation of the tunnel, are currently being reviewed, and trials conducted with the Siemens train in the tunnel in mid-October had proved conclusive for the German manufacturer. (O.L./transl.rt)