Rival bidder Alstom has challenged the procurement process for a sole supplier major framework deal leading to an automatic contract award suspension.

Its legal challenge for damages is set to go before the courts this summer.

But a High Court judge has now ruled that Network Rail can proceed with the first call-off contracts from the contested £1.8bn signalling framework after the rail infrastructure company successfully argued it could not delay progress on vital signalling upgrades.

These involve outline design for a train control system covering the southern section of the ECML from London Kings Cross to Peterborough North, worth £10m.

The other is a design, build and maintenance contract for a train control system for the Northern City Line from Finsbury Park to Moorgate, with an anticipated duration of 32 years and an estimated value of £46m.

Alstom is challenging the scoring process, which saw it secure a 76.39% mark compared with Siemens’ 77.71% mark against the bid criteria.