Planning

Rail Replacement Operators for Routes Covering Wales and Border Routes Operated by Transport for Wales

TRANSPORT FOR WALES RAIL LIMITED (UTILITY BUYER)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Jan 2026 at 17:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for Wales Rail Limited (TfWRL), a sub-central government public authority, is in the planning stage of a procurement process to in-house the co-ordination and management of the Rail Replacement Service across Wales and bordering routes operated by TfWRL, including connections between Wales and England. This procurement involves gathering market intelligence through a series of market engagement events scheduled for early February 2026, with completion by the 27th of February 2026. The procurement will be conducted under Welsh devolved regulations and is classified within the railway transport services industry. The events will occur in various locations across Wales, including Llandudno, Shrewsbury, Pontypridd, and Carmarthen, along with an online session.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in public road transport, special-purpose passenger transport services, non-scheduled passenger transport, and the hire of buses and coaches with drivers. The procurement method under consideration is a multi-lot Open Framework, which is particularly suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs). By engaging in the planning phase through these market events, companies have a chance to influence the service specifications and express their willingness and strategies for managing risks within the proposed framework. Successful businesses could significantly expand their service provision across the UK regions connected through the framework.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Rail Replacement Operators for Routes Covering Wales and Border Routes Operated by Transport for Wales

Notice Description

Transport for Wales Rail (TfWRL) are in-housing the co-ordination and management of the Rail Replacement Service (RRS) across Wales and Border routes operated by TfWRL within Wales and between Wales and England. Or any such route operated by TfW as may arise in future This means that all pre-planned and emergency rail replacement services currently provided by coach and bus operators will be contracted directly by TfWRL. TfW are currently considering procuring a multi-lot Open Framework to support service provision across Wales. The indictive time plan is as follows and may change at the Authority's discretion. Market Engagement early February 26 Issue Tender April 26 Close Tender mid to end of June 26 Contract Award end of July 26 Operator mobilisation and commencement of award of duties between August 26 - October 26.

Planning Information

This notice is issued solely for the purpose of gathering market intelligence and does not constitute a call for competition or a commitment to a formal procurement process at this stage. Through this early market engagement exercise, Transport for Wales Rail Limited the Contracting Authority seeks to: 1. Hold a series of Meet the Buyer market engagement events across Wales, to share its future vision with operators for future service provision of the planned change to in-house the co-ordination and management of the Rail Replacement Service. 2. Understand the level of operator market interest in supplying all emergency and pre-planned rail replacement services directly to TfW by participating in any future procurement opportunity. 3. Provide updates of its procurement process, timescales and current strategy. 4. Obtain information to help inform the specification e.g. duty allocation method, setting of appropriate service level KPI’s; pricing options and options for geographical zoning etc. 5. Obtain insight from operators of the challenges they face in delivering the service and provide suggestions as to how it may be improved 6. Understand any operator risks, including any associated risks and mitigations when providing this service. 7. Challenges Transport for Wales Rail Limited may not have considered. TfW currently plan to hold 4 regional events and 1 virtual event as follows: Llandudno, Shrewsbury, Pontypridd and Carmarthen. Please be advised if registration to attend these events is low, then the event may be cancelled and operators encouraged to attend the virtual session. TfW are being supported by Business Wales, who will manage the operator event registration process. How to register for these events will be posted on the Business Wales website (events page) in the coming days and may be found on the following links https://wales.business-events.org.uk/ or https://wales.business-events.org.uk/cy/ The events will be held between the 4th - 13th February, and subject to capacity, TfW may hold further 121 sessions if operators express an interest. All market engagement events will be concluded by the 27th February. If there are any specific topics relating to the Rail Replacement Service you would like to see covered during these events, please email TFW.RRSOperators@tfwrail.wales Please note the target audience for these events is operators of bus, coach and minibus etc. Rail Replacement services supported by Taxi operators is not part of the scope of this particular exercise. All events will cover the same content, hence only one event need be attended per operator.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060348
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002064-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60112000 - Public road transport services

60130000 - Special-purpose road passenger-transport services

60140000 - Non-scheduled passenger transport

60172000 - Hire of buses and coaches with driver

60200000 - Railway transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£71,576,858 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Apr 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
19 Jul 2026 - 19 Jul 2031 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
TRANSPORT FOR WALES RAIL LIMITED (UTILITY BUYER)
Contact Name
Christine Thorne
Contact Email
tfw.rrsoperators@tfwrail.wales
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
PONTYPRIDD
Postcode
CF37 4TH
Post Town
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England), TLL Wales
Local Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Electoral Ward
Pontypridd Town
Westminster Constituency
Pontypridd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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