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Automatic Vehicle Inspection System

Transport for London

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

11 Aug 2026 at 18:33

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

30 Oct 2025 at 15:34

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for London is exploring an automated vehicle inspection system for London Underground rolling stock maintenance. The service would inspect train bodysides, roofs and underframes as trains move into maintenance facilities, covering both multiple-unit and single-unit formations. It would identify vehicles by painted number and capture condition data using video and thermal imaging, acoustic monitoring and related sensors. Expected outputs include detection, classification and reporting of defects such as overheating components, graffiti, broken or misaligned parts, damaged collector shoes, underframe damage, out-of-gauge equipment, wheel profile defects, wheel flats and brake wear. The system would securely store and manage images and sensor data, using automated analytics, machine learning or artificial intelligence where appropriate. Initial delivery would be at up to two London Underground maintenance depots in London.

This procurement is at the planning stage and TfL is conducting early market engagement before deciding the future procurement. It is expected to comprise one service requirement delivered in phases: concept design and development; a proof-of-concept development, installation and evaluation; and, subject to approval, a potential fleet-wide rollout. The planned contract period is indicative, from 22 March 2027 to 31 March 2028. TfL expects to use a phased approach with break points and may proceed with any, some or none of the phases. Suppliers interested in the market engagement were expected to request a Market Sounding Questionnaire by 12:00 on 20 August 2026, return it by 12:00 on 28 August 2026, and could attend voluntary virtual engagement sessions on 24 or 25 August 2026. No procurement value is stated.

The requirement is suited to suppliers combining railway rolling-stock knowledge with automated inspection, machine vision, thermal imaging, acoustic monitoring, sensor integration, data platforms and artificial intelligence or machine-learning analytics. Strong candidates are likely to demonstrate the ability to inspect complete trains from both sides and across roofs and underframes while vehicles are moving, identify assets reliably, and produce actionable information for maintenance teams. Experience with defect detection, condition monitoring, predictive or condition-based maintenance, secure image and sensor-data management, and integration with operational maintenance environments will be relevant. Suppliers should be prepared to develop a concept and then prove it through a prototype installation at up to two London Underground depots. The buyer is seeking reduced manual inspection effort, improved maintenance efficiency, higher asset availability and more frequent fleet inspections.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Automatic Vehicle Inspection System

Notice Description

Transport for London (TfL) is seeking to engage with the market to understand available solutions for an automated vehicle inspection system to undertake condition inspection of rolling stock as part of routine maintenance activities. TfL is seeking solutions capable of providing automated inspection of train bodyside, roof and underframe equipment as trains arrive at maintenance facilities. Solutions should be capable of identifying individual vehicles by painted number and capturing condition data of the vehicle during train movements. Solutions should be capable of detecting, classifying and reporting defects and asset condition issues, including, but not limited to, overheating components (such as brake resistors, bearings, traction equipment, HVAC equipment, brake blocks, wheelsets, traction motors and gearboxes), graffiti, broken windows, missing, damaged or misaligned components, damaged collector shoes, underframe damage, out-of-gauge equipment, wheel profile defects, wheel flats and brake wear using video & thermal imaging and acoustic monitoring technologies. The inspection capability should cover both sides of the vehicle, the roof and underframe, and be applicable to both multiple-unit and single-unit train formations. Solutions should provide secure capture, storage and management of inspection data, including images and sensor outputs, and utilise automated analytics, including Machine Learning (ML) and/or Artificial Intelligence (AI) where appropriate, to identify defects, trends and recurring issues and provide actionable information to maintenance personnel. TfL is particularly interested in understanding how proposed solutions can reduce manual inspection effort, improve maintenance efficiency, increase asset availability and support condition-based maintenance through frequent, automated fleet inspections. This planned procurement will be for a phased proof of concept and prototype trial and implementation at up to two London Underground Rolling Stock maintenance depots only. Depending on the outcome and demonstrated benefits, TfL may elect to procure further installations at other London Underground maintenance depots. The proposed procurement is envisaged to be delivered in three phases as defined below (subject to change): Phase 1: Concept design and development of the proposed solution. Phase 2: Subject to successful completion of Phase 1, development, installation and evaluation of a Proof of Concept at up to two London Underground Rolling Stock maintenance depots . Phase 3: Subject to business approval, potential fleet-wide rollout of the solution across the TfL's network. Phase 3 represents a potential future requirement only. Any future requirements under Phase 3 (in whole or in part) shall proceed at TfL's sole discretion and this EME or participation on in any future tender shall not constitute a commitment or guarantee of volume. As part of this EME, interested parties should note that TfL reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to develop any individual phase, any combination of phases, or none of the phases. Progression between phases is not guaranteed and remains subject to the TfL's continued business requirements, funding availability and internal approvals. The future procurement shall include defined break points at the end of each phase. TfL may, at its sole discretion, elect not to proceed to any subsequent phase without liability, other than for deliverables satisfactorily completed and accepted in accordance with the future Contract. No commitment is made to proceed beyond any phase, irrespective of the success of any preceding phase.

Planning Information

Interested suppliers should submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) by requesting a Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) by email to arjunmattathil@tfl.gov.uk no later than 12:00 PM on 20th August 2026. Completed Market Sounding Questionnaires must be returned no later than 12:00 PM on 28th August 2026. Late responses will not be considered. TfL intends to hold brief supplier engagement sessions with interested suppliers. These sessions will be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams on 24th and 25th August 2026 only. Participation is entirely voluntary, and participation or non-participation will have no bearing on the evaluation of any EME submission. Non-responses to this expression of interest will be deemed as not interested. If bidders do not choose to participate in the Early Market Engagement process, this will not affect the ability to participate in the tender if Expressions of Interest to participate in the tender is received by the closing date.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d750
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076454-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

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

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
22 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 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
Transport for London
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E20 1JN
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI41 Hackney and Newham
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Newham
Electoral Ward
Stratford Olympic Park
Westminster Constituency
Stratford and Bow

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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