Planning

GWR - Train Planning System

FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

18 Jul 2025 at 12:31

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

18 Jul 2025 at 12:29

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED, a private utility company located in Wiltshire, United Kingdom, is seeking expressions of interest for a new Train Planning System. The procurement process is in the planning stage, with a market engagement notice published on 18th July 2025. Interested suppliers have the opportunity to engage with the project team by 12th September 2025 to express their interest before the commencement of the tender process. This procurement, estimated at a gross value of £3,600,000, falls under the 'goods' category with a focus on railway traffic control software, and delivery is expected across the UK with a contract period from 2027 to 2032, potentially extending to 2034.

This tender offers substantial business growth opportunities for companies specialising in railway software and systems integration, particularly those with the capability to provide robust decision support tools and seamless interfacing with existing systems. Businesses with expertise in developing complex, secure, and reliable software solutions that can handle large datasets, adhere to customisable requirements, and provide continuous technical support will find this project particularly relevant. The emphasis on utilities procurement suggests that experienced providers within this special regime are well-suited to compete, potentially enhancing their portfolio and establishing partnerships with a significant player in the UK railway network.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

GWR - Train Planning System

Notice Description

Introduction GWR is seeking engagement with suppliers interested in providing a Train Planning system to incorporate all its requirements for the future. GWR's timetable supports over 100 million passenger journeys per year and having robust and reliable back office systems are an essential part of us delivering that service day in and out. We are seeking a system that can combine daily routine functionality with future strategic timetable work. One of the key elements of a new system is reliable and seamless interfaces with Network Rail systems and the Control system we use at GWR. We are seeking expressions of interest from suppliers ahead of an engagement event in September followed by a tender process. The following is a basic specification of functionality we are seeking for a new system and is not exhaustive. Development of schedules * The system will need to include the ability to create, store, maintain and update train schedules for current, previous and future timetables across multiple databases, this includes the long term plan and then weekly and daily amendments for Engineering Work. * The system will need the ability to provide complex decision support tools to help planners amend and create schedules, such as graphical editing and conflict detection. * The system will need to be able to store background timetable planning rule data, geography and sectional running times to be able to pull from. * The system will need to provide a seamless way to interface information with the other modules of the system and with Control/Network Rail systems. * The system will be expected to produce and consume common interface files associated with train planning. Diagramming Functionality * The system will need to have modules for Traincrew and Rolling Stock diagramming which will need to seamlessly interface with our control, rostering and resourcing systems. * The system will need to include the ability to create, store, maintain and update stock/crew diagrams for current, previous and future timetables across multiple databases, this includes the long term plan and then weekly and daily amendments for Engineering Work. * The system will need the ability to provide complex decision support tools to help planners amend and create stock and crew diagrams, such as gantt charts. * The system will be expected to include the ability to provide detailed set up and customisation and warning flags to help minimise human error. * The system will need to be able to store background data for the diagrams to be able to pull from. * The system will be expected to produce a customisable schedule cards for traincrew- essential to our daily operations. Reporting Functionality * The system will need to have functionality to produce reports regularly used and interface with industry systems such as the MOIRA revenue system. Technical Requirements. * A detailed set of requirements will be provided. * Key requirements are around security, speed, reliability and the seamless ability to interface with different systems. Training and ongoing support * Full and ongoing support will be required during set up and implementation including training for colleagues. * We will require 24/7 tech support for any issues with the system.

Planning Information

GWR want to hear from suppliers who feel they can realistically provide the Service. The project team are happy to discuss over Teams, face to face or on site. The GWR team will agree the next steps as interest is received. Please register your interest in participating in this stage here ; http://redirect.transaxions.com/events/2p4L0

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05621d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041302-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48140000 - Railway traffic control software package

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,600,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Jun 2027 - 1 Jul 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@gwr.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN1 1HL
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Swindon South

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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