Environmental activists campaigning against Britain's planned high-speed rail project were ordered to vacate the tunnels they built near one of London's busiest stations.
Mr Justice Knowles said it was “very dangerous” for the nine activists to inhabit the tunnels near Euston rail station.
Campaigners against the high-speed HS2 rail link, which will run from Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and eventually to Scotland, say it will destroy ancient woodlands.
The HS2 Rebellion group have been camping in front of Euston Station for several months and secretly dug what members described as "a network of tunnels" under a nearby public garden.
They were ordered to leave the venue after an appeal by the protesters on Monday to the High Court failed.
Mr Justice Knowles said any evacuation operation implemented by HS2 should carefully consider the opinions of Peter Faulding, a tunnel expert advising the protesters.
The group, including Dr Larch Maxey who is named in the court appeal, contend that the HS2 eviction team has not properly considered protesters’ safety.
Representing the activists John Cooper QC said: “The judge ordered that our clients should receive full access to legal advice, which until now has been impossible. A member of our team received a Covid fine when he tried to get access to the protesters previously.
“The judge also ordered that HS2 must consider the observations of the clients’ tunnel extraction expert Peter Faulding, a foremost expert in the field who has called for extraction works to be reviewed to avoid possible risk of harm to the protesters.”
An HS2 representative said: "If Dr Maxey does not comply with the order to leave the tunnel or the other obligations he will now be in contempt of court, punishable by a fine, up to two years in prison or both.
“We urge Dr Maxey to comply with the order as soon as possible – for his safety and the safety of his fellow activists and the HS2 and emergency personnel tasked with removing the illegal trespassers.”
HS2 Rebellion said its 30-metre tunnel network, codenamed ‘Calvin’, was dug over a period of months by activists who worked concealed behind a "fortified stronghold" made out of pallets, nicknamed ‘Buckingham Pallets’.
The group claims that the rail project will “destroy” 108 ancient woodlands and lead to “countless people being forced from” homes and businesses.
HS2 said that only 43 ancient woodlands would be affected by the railway's route between London and Crewe in northern England, with 80 per cent of their area remaining intact.
