Award

Direct award of a Lease for Class 455 rolling stock

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

ContractAmendment

22 Aug 2025 at 15:22

Award

02 Jul 2025 at 13:37

Award

12 May 2025 at 12:56

Award

11 May 2025 at 13:30

Summary of the contracting process

South Western Railway Limited, a public undertaking based in London, United Kingdom, recently amended a direct award contract for the leasing of Class 455 rolling stock. The procurement process falls under the category of railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock. The direct award was justified due to technical reasons, ensuring that only the Porterbrook Class 455 fleet met the specific requirements needed by the contracting authority over the three-year contract duration. The significant date attached to the latest contract amendment is 22nd August 2025, with the original award being notable around July 2025. This procurement under the 'utilities' special regime method signifies a continuation rather than a modification of terms, with the leasing contract already active since May 25th, 2025.

This tender offers considerable business growth opportunities, particularly for those in the railway equipment supply industry with expertise and capability in rolling stock leasing and maintenance. The alignment with technical needs specific to the Class 455 fleet makes it suitable primarily for businesses that already have a proven track record in providing such specialised rail vehicles. With the responsibility of maintenance resting with the contracting authority, businesses that focus on leasing solutions, flexibility in contract management, and potential sub-letting might find this tender a fitting complement to their existing service portfolios.

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Notice Title

Direct award of a Lease for Class 455 rolling stock

Notice Description

Direct award of a 3 year contract for the leasing of up to 79 x 4 car units of Class 455 rolling stock with the ability to hand back units on 1 month's notice . The lease of the rolling stock is on the basis that the contracting authority (rather than the supplier) is responsible for all maintenance of the vehicles. The Lease also contains a right to transfer or sub-let the contract to certain third parties and an obligation for the supplier to enter into a direct agreement with the Secretary of State in parallel to the Lease. The direct agreement permits the Secretary of State to call for a New Contract in the event of the termination or expiry of the contracting authority's services agreement with the Secretary of State. The duration of the New Contract would typically be up to 3 years and the terms of the New Contract and the circumstances in which the direct agreement can be relied upon are all unambiguously set out in the direct agreement. The Lease also contains provisions addressing adjustments to monthly rentals on the basis specified in the Lease if certain modifications to the rolling stock are required which are to be funded by the Lessor. In the event that the contract is transferred or sub-let to a third party, a direct agreement is relied upon by the Secretary of State or modifications to the rolling stock are required and are to be funded by the Lessor, it is considered that these would be permitted modifications provided for in the contract.

Procurement Information

No fleet other than the Porterbrook Class 455 are able to meet the requirements that the contracting authority needs from this rolling stock for the necessary contract duration to meet its public passenger rail transport obligations. The Class 455s are required only to cover the introduction of the remaining Class 701 fleet which is anticipated to be completed within a relatively short timescale. There is therefore an absence of competition for technical reasons and there are no reasonable alternatives to the Class 455 rolling stock. The contract duration of three years provides a reasonable level of contingency if some of the rolling stock need to be retained for a longer period for operational reasons.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051055
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051010-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation


CPV Codes

34600000 - Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£46,200,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£46,200,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Aug 20256 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 May 20259 months ago
Contract Period
21 Aug 2025 - 25 May 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@dftoperator.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DR
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
Vincent Square
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PORTERBROOK LEASING

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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