Notice Information
Notice Title
Rail Replacement System
Notice Description
The requirement for this procurement is four Rail Replacement Gantries systems for use on the HS1 route. The gantry system must be able to deliver the following requirements and conform to particular interfaces: Key requirements: System must deliver renewals in CP4 System must operate in single-bore tunnel environment System must perform rail replacement activities in weeknight shift System must be capable of exchanging both S&C assets and CWR System must deliver rail, exchange rails, and collect scrap in the same working shift Key considerations for interface groups: Permanent way: The track gauge is 1435mm. The rail type is UIC60 (aka CEN60) on mainly ballasted track with twin block sleepers, and ~50km single track on slab track. The maximum installed cant is 160mm. The maximum gradient is 1 in 40 (2.5%). Open sections have a maximum speed of 300km/h, with track centres spaced at 4.5m. The infrastructure is predominantly built to GC gauge. UIC GB+ gauge applies to the Ashford connecting lines on the NR Network. The most restrictive, W6a gauge applies to a small number of locations on NRHS-managed infrastructure. Buildings & Civils: Several tunnels exist on HS1 including twin tunnels under London from Stratford westwards towards St Pancras and eastwards towards Dagenham. Tunnel depth varies between 24m and 50m. The two London tunnels are 7.5km and 10.1km long and split by Stratford International station. Other major tunnels include the 3.1km tunnel under the Thames at Thurrock in Essex and the 3.2km North Downs Tunnel near Maidstone in Kent. HS1 features several major viaducts with three exceeding 1km in length: Medway Viaduct carries the line over the river Medway adjacent to the M2 motorway, Thurrock Viaduct takes the line over the A282 Dartford Crossing and Ashford Viaduct takes the fast lines over Ashford International station. Signalling & Telecoms (S&T): TVM430 in-cab signalling is used across the infrastructure - except at Ashford and St Pancras International stations which are equipped with the KVB train protection system. Electricfication & Plant (E&P): Catenary compliant with the Energy (High Speed) TSI supplies 25kV at 50Hz AC. The contact wire height is 5080mm above rail level except for the Ashford Station platforms where it is at 4680mm minimum. Maintenance Depot: The infrastructure maintenance depot for HS1, Singlewell Infrastructure Maintenance Depot (SIMD), is located at Singlewell, near to Gravesend, Kent. Storage, maintenance and overhaul of the proposed system would need to take place at SIMD. The contract will also includes the provision of training for Network Rail High Speed personnel to operate and maintain the Gantries once they are delivered to site.
Procurement Information
We intend to direct award under the justification that the competition is absent due to technical reasons and in this case only a particular supplier can supply goods. This is because any incompatibility between existing systems/equipment and new goods could also result in time consuming and complex redesign and modification which is unacceptable in the circumstances as this will have a major impact on delivering future work banks. In this case we cannot wait for bespoke alternatives due to the increased risk, cost and expected delay to CP4 renewals. There is a risk that train services will be delayed, delay costs incurred and reputational damage due to faulty assets and that NRHS does not have a viable methodology to address this. The Geismar 'PMC' gantries are intended for S&C replacement and are used extensively by SNCF on their high-speed lines. The gantries are transported to the worksite affixed to rail wagons, meaning they can be moved during passenger service to maximise the maintenance window. A series of PMC units can operate in tandem to replace S&C assets (half sets switches, crossings etc.) as well as longer lengths of continuously welded rail (CWR). They are remote control operated and self-deploy from the wagon using a combination of offloading legs and the larger, primary support legs. The assets being replaced can be transported to the worksite on the same consist that delivers the PMC units, where the rail assets are affixed to the wagon deck, underneath the PMC unit. This allows for the significant benefit of delivering new, replacing, and removing scrap, assets in the same shift - reducing the requirement from three, to one maintenance shift. The PMC solution has a significantly reduced profile when compared to other larger, tracked gantry systems used for major track renewals works. This unlocks their utility under live OHLE (without isolation) and in areas of restricted structure gauge (i.e tunnels) - both of which are vital for planned NRHS infrastructure maintenance. The justification is based on schedule 5, paragraph 6 which states: The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-0604eb
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002777-2026
- Current Stage
- Award
- All Stages
- Award
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK5 - Transparency 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
42 - Industrial machinery
-
- CPV Codes
42414310 - Mobile lifting frames
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- Not specified
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- £5,271,000 £1M-£10M
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 13 Jan 20261 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- Not specified
- Award Date
- 13 Jan 20261 months ago
- Contract Period
- 16 Feb 2026 - 14 Feb 2028 1-2 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Pending
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- NETWORK RAIL (HIGH SPEED) LIMITED
- Contact Name
- George Fenning
- Contact Email
- george.fenning@networkrail.co.uk
- Contact Phone
- +447561874242
Buyer Location
- Locality
- LONDON
- Postcode
- SE1 8SW
- Post Town
- South East London
- Country
- England
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLI London
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLI4 Inner London - East
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLI45 Lambeth
- Delivery Location
- Not specified
-
- Local Authority
- Lambeth
- Electoral Ward
- Waterloo & South Bank
- Westminster Constituency
- Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002777-2026
13th January 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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