Planning

Depot & Facilities Requirement For The Long Term Maintenance Of Class 68 Locomotives & Mk5A Coaches

THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

11 Feb 2026 at 14:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Chiltern Railway Company Limited is currently in the planning stage of a tender process titled "Depot & Facilities Requirement For The Long Term Maintenance Of Class 68 Locomotives & Mk5A Coaches." This initiative is centered on the rail transport industry, seeking services related to the maintenance of locomotives and rolling stock. The buyer, based in Sunderland, UK, is engaging the market to assess readiness and contracting options for maintaining their fleet, which includes 13 Mk5a Coaches and 15 c68 Locomotive units. The procurement process is not meant to be an immediate awarding event but rather an information-gathering phase with deadlines set for supplier engagement responses by 13th March 2026. The anticipated contract period will span from 31st October 2026 to 30th October 2036, highlighting significant business opportunities in maintaining and supporting rail infrastructure across the United Kingdom.

This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses in the rail services sector to demonstrate their expertise in maintenance and depot facility readiness. Companies with capabilities in providing sophisticated maintenance solutions, including vehicle lifting and wheel lathe facilities, are encouraged to partake. The procurement exercise welcomes participation from suppliers across various sectors that can showcase their ability to support long-term maintenance strategies for Chiltern Railways. This engagement underscores the potential for transformative partnerships as suppliers can shape future contracting models, ensuring resilience and optimal value-for-money solutions. Furthermore, interested businesses need to register and acknowledge the engagement via Chiltern Railways' procurement platform by February 18th, 2026, to be part of this crucial market interaction process.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Depot & Facilities Requirement For The Long Term Maintenance Of Class 68 Locomotives & Mk5A Coaches

Notice Description

The Chiltern Railways Company is in process of cascading a fleet of 13*Mk5a Coaches and 15*c68 Locomotive units on its London Marylebone to Birmingham route during 2026, with the full complement of rolling stock to be in service by 1st December 2026. The units are leased from Beacon Rail Leasing and are currently being maintained under an interim maintenance agreement between Chiltern Railways and Beacon Rail Leasing until 1st December 2026. Under the existing maintenance structure, the Mk5a Coaches are being maintained by the OEM alongside a TSSSA, the maintenance of the c68 Locomotives is being undertaken by a non-OEM 3rd party who also operate the c68 TSSSA. The maintenance works are being undertaken at the Eastleigh Train Maintenance Depot, with vehicle movements to and from the depot being provided by a 3rd party supplier. As part of the long-term maintenance contract renewal post 1st December 2026, Chiltern Railways is seeking to understand market readiness and the available contracting options, which may inform its long-term procurement strategy and most optimal route to market, which may be informed by this preliminary market engagement process.

Planning Information

Aims of The Engagement Process Ascertain market readiness and available options for Chiltern Railways to deliver its long-term maintenance strategy. Ascertain that any resultant long-term strategy is robust and exceeds Chiltern Railways obligations as a good and efficient operator. Determine the most optimal contracting model which provides resilience and value for money. Identify risks, opportunities & interdependencies. Implement Best practice and industry learning which may be adopted. In responding to this engagement, suppliers should provide their responses to the questions posed, detailing their approach, caveats, risks and opportunities they foresee in delivering the service. Chiltern Railways shall review the responses and where appropriate engage in further supplier interaction, which may take the form of site visits, face to face meetings or supplier events. Conditions of Engagement & Supplier Acknowledgment Suppliers participating in this process agree that this is an information gathering exercise only, and should not be interpreted as a procurement event, there shall be no evaluation or award resulting from this process by The Chiltern Railway Company. The responses obtained from this engagement may inform the most viable contracting models and expedient route to market for any subsequent procurement which may be undertaken. Chiltern Railways may share elements of its findings with the market, suppliers should clearly state any areas of confidentiality in their response/s to the questionnaire stating "not to be shared as part of any debriefing process". Chiltern Railways shall have no liability for any costs arising from this engagement which the supplier may incur as part of this process, Chiltern Railways acknowledges that suppliers may require clarification prior to their submission and whilst the object of this engagement is not to enter into detailed exchange of information, Chiltern Railways will aim to provide clarity where appropriate to participants where it deems appropriate. Commercial Sensitivity The supplier should advise any areas of response which they deem to be confidential, clearly stating these may not be divulged in the event of any debrief process. Chiltern Railways Requirements Chiltern Railways wishes to understand the availability and readiness of Depot facilities which need to be available for the maintenance across the set's units the 1st of December 2026 through the 1st of December 2036. The Depot will need to accommodate the following at the commencement of the contract. • Pitted capability to accommodate a 6-car unit. • Vehicle or full train lifting capabilities. • Wheel lathe capabilities. • Cleaning road with graffiti and fatality cleaning facilities. • Bogie drop facilities. • Crane and high-level gantry access. It the expected that the contract duration shall be for a period of 10 years, with a contract commencement date of the 31st October 2026 and planned mobilisation by the 1st December 2026. Participation If you wish to participate in this engagement process, your formal acceptance is required by 16.00hrs Wednesday 18th February 2026, by registering at the Chiltern Procurement Dojo Platform and via the acceptance and return of our NDA without modification. Access to the Market Dojo is located at the link below where suppliers can access the event https://marketdojo.com/market-dojo-sign-up/ Event code 82D5136076 Engagement Responses Deadline 16.00hrs Friday 13th March 2026 General Information Suppliers must register on Market Dojo Platform and it's their responsibility to ensure participants are kept informed of the status of this activity. Chiltern Railways may use multiple procurement procedures in accordance with PA2023. Chiltern Railways welcome responses from suppliers across sectors who can demonstrate capability in the areas above. Suppliers are not obliged to take part in this activity and may still participate in any forthcoming ITT in accordance with the rules of participation under PA2023.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-064e17
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012495-2026
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

50 - Repair and maintenance services

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

34610000 - Rail locomotives and tenders

34620000 - Rolling stock

34630000 - Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock; railways traffic-control equipment

50200000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft, railways, roads and marine equipment

60210000 - Public transport services by railways

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Mar 20263 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2036 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
THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement.department@chilternrailways.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR3 3XP
Post Town
Sunderland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Doxford
Westminster Constituency
Houghton and Sunderland South

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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