Planning

European Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Early Works - Stage 2 (Develop) Support Services

HS1 LTD (T/A LONDON ST. PANCRAS HIGHSPEED)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

13 Mar 2026 at 09:31

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by HS1 Ltd, trading as London St. Pancras Highspeed, involves engaging external consultants to support the development stage of the European Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Early Works. The process is currently in the planning stage, with a preliminary market engagement notice published on 13th March 2026. The procurement focuses on railway engineering and management consulting services within the United Kingdom, particularly London. A tender notice is expected to be published in April 2026, with a contract award planned for September 2026. The project aims to address obsolescence in the current signalling system by assessing strategic options, funding approaches, and delivery models, with a scheduled six-month duration and a potential extension for on-site surveys.

This tender represents substantial business growth opportunities for firms specialising in railway engineering and management consultancy services, particularly those capable of addressing complex infrastructure projects under competitive flexible procedures. Businesses that can offer innovative solutions in strategic planning and project delivery will find themselves well-suited to compete, especially those catering to private utilities and able to collaborate effectively with stakeholders. The project involves a significant budget of £600,000, highlighting its scope and potential impact across the UK's rail sector. SMEs are encouraged to participate, as their capabilities in delivering bespoke consulting services align with the objectives and requirements set forth in the tender process.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

European Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Early Works - Stage 2 (Develop) Support Services

Notice Description

Preliminary Market Engagement Notice London St. Pancras Highspeed's current TVM430 signalling system is reaching obsolescence, creating increasing operational, safety and resilience risks. Without intervention, system reliability and lifecycle issues are expected to significantly impact network performance from the 2030s. Stage 1 of the upgrade programme--delivered with SYSTRA--produced an Operational Context Document, a Technical Strategy with long- and short-list options, and a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) in WebTAG format. This completed the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) Stage 1: Determine. LSPH and its stakeholders are now progressing to RNEP Stage 2: Develop, requiring specialist external consultancy support throughout 2026. Stage 2 will resolve key strategic questions, including the preferred technology solution for replacing TVM430, the funding approach within the HS1 regulatory and concession framework, the suitability of innovative commercial models, strategic opportunities, and the project delivery and scope choices that minimise whole-life cost. Additional strategic issues may be identified collaboratively during the process. Summary of requirement Stage 2 has an estimated duration of six months, extending if an option to complete on-site surveys is executed, and aims to evaluate a range of delivery options for introducing ERTMS on High Speed 1. The assessment will include but not be limited to benefits, costs, deliverability, and operational impacts. The objective is to secure full stakeholder agreement on a single, coherent project delivery strategy for ERTMS implementation. To complete Stage 2, the appointed consultant will deliver: * Confirmation of the preferred technical option, commercial delivery model, funding route, and integrated project delivery model. * Long-list and short-list optioneering across technical, commercial, and funding dimensions to determine the integrated delivery model. * A whole-life cost estimate for the integrated delivery model. * A delivery schedule through to entry into service and handover to maintenance. * A comprehensive RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies) register in the authority's format. * All Deliverables from the Deliverables Register (to be provided). * Satisfy paragraphs A.6 to A.11 of the latest Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline guidance to enable progression to the next phase. Required Outcome All relevant stakeholders support and agree to the implementation of a single, coherent project delivery strategy for ERTMS on High Speed 1. Timescales and Procedure The Contracting Authority intends to follow a Competitive Flexible procedure in this procurement. The Contracting Authority intends to publish a tender notice in April 2026 and award a contract in September 2026.

Planning Information

https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=103618&TID=100108811&B=

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-066937
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022699-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

71311230 - Railway engineering services

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

79411000 - General management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Mar 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
20 Apr 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
28 Sep 2026 - 26 Feb 2027 1-6 months
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
HS1 LTD (T/A LONDON ST. PANCRAS HIGHSPEED)
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
N1 9AG
Post Town
North London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI43 Haringey and Islington
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Islington
Electoral Ward
Caledonian
Westminster Constituency
Islington South and Finsbury

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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