Notice Information
Notice Title
IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract
Notice Description
The railway industry is undergoing a major shift from traditional lineside signals to a fully digital railway. Network Rail is replacing physical signals with the European Train Control System (ETCS), which provides real-time, in-cab movement authority. ETCS gives drivers accurate, continuous information, allowing trains to run safely at optimal speeds and closer together. This leads to fewer delays, more capacity, improved reliability, and a more modern and cost- efficient railway. To deliver ETCS, both the signalling infrastructure and train fleets must be upgraded with new onboard equipment. Network Rail plans to procure a 15-year single supplier contract to design, supply and install ETCS onboard equipment and associated services for the Alstom Turbostar fleet family. The Turbostar fleet is the next priority because fitment and driver training must be completed ahead of the planned "signals away" for the Grantham Infrastructure ETCS Scheme on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The Turbostar fleet are diesel multiple units (DMUs) built by Adtranz and later Bombardier (now Alstom) in Derby between 1997 and 2011. The family consists of 202 units of Class 168, Class 170, Class 171, Class 172, of which 168 are planned to be fitted owned by Porterbrook (145), Beacon Rail Leasing (12) and Angel Trains (12). The fleet to be fitted is operated across 6 Train Operating Companies (TOCs). As such there is a significant opportunity to implement a consolidated sourcing strategy which will drive value, economies of scale and consistency into the procurement and delivery of the works over this proposed fifteen 15-year contract period.
Planning Information
Network Rail intends to procure a national, long-term contract for the onboard fitment of digital signalling system equipment, European Train Control Systems (ETCS), and associated works on to IPDR Turbostar passenger trains. The IPDR Turbostar fleet has been identified as the next priority procurement due to the required delivery dates to achieve fitment completion and driver training before the anticipated ‘signals away’ date for the Grantham Scheme on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The Turbostar fleet are diesel multiple units (DMUs) built by Adtranz and later Bombardier (now Alstom) in Derby between 1997 and 2011. The family consists of 206 units of Class 168, Class 170, Class 171, Class 172, of which 172 are planned to be fitted owned by Porterbrook (145), Beacon Rail Leasing (12) and Angel Trains (12). The fleet to be fitted is operated across 6 Train Operating Companies (TOCs). As such there is a significant opportunity to implement a consolidated sourcing strategy which will drive value, economies of scale and consistency into the procurement and delivery of the works over this proposed fifteen 15 year contract period. Network Rail is planning to conduct a Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to develop the procurement approach and provide the market with the opportunity to input. Responding to the notice is an excellent opportunity to engage with the programme, share relevant information and provide vital feedback to inform the procurement approach. Should your organisation wish to respond to this notice please follow the instructions below. 1. Supplier Engagement Event NR intends to hold a virtual online supplier engagement session for registered parties in relation to the procurement of the IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract on the 28 April 2026, via Microsoft Teams. NR encourages your organisation to attend this event and hear about this very exciting opportunity and the start of changing the GB Rail Industry for the future of ETCS. This event will have a greater level of detailed information provided on our proposed approaches, and we encourage attendance therefore to help shape the requirements and contracting strategy. Our team will be on hand to take away any questions which will answered by publishing the Q&A in the BRAVO sourcing portal after the event. All supply chains are encouraged to attend (large or small) to understand how your organisation can become engaged and involved. To register for the event please follow the instructions below: 1. Follow the link https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html 2. From the welcome screen, access the "View Current Opportunities" link and select “IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract” (Login is not required). 3. Then follow the instructions in the "Responding to the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice" section of the attached document titled “IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract Supplier Briefing Document” in the Opportunity Attachments section in BRAVO. Should you have any difficulties in registering for the event or have any clarifications or questions in respect of this market engagement they should be directed to: PFP@networkrail.co.uk 2. Market Sounding Questionnaire In conjunction with the publication of this PME Notice and the supplier briefing document, NR has published a Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) in the Opportunity Attachments section in BRAVO which invites all participants to provide feedback on key areas to help shape the requirements and contracting strategy for the IPDR - Turbostar - Onboard ETCS Fleet Fitment Contract. 3. Supplier Clarification Question (CQ) process NR shall run a full clarification question process throughout this whole market engagement process via the NR BRAVO sourcing portal messaging function. Where no Unique Selling Points (USP’s) or Intellectual Property Rights are disclosed then in these cases our responses and the original question will be shared with all potential participants via BRAVO. NR therefore request that should anything be considered a USP and IPR to your organisation that this is marked (CONFIDENTIAL & COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE) on the clarification or email at the very top of the clarification or email, so that NR can consider ensuring protection of the same.
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-06771d
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030010-2026
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Works
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- Procurement Method Details
- Not specified
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
45 - Construction work
-
- CPV Codes
34600000 - Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts
34620000 - Rolling stock
34630000 - Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock; railways traffic-control equipment
34631000 - Parts of locomotives or rolling stock
34632000 - Railways traffic-control equipment
45234115 - Railway signalling works
45316200 - Installation of signalling equipment
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £234,000,000 £100M-£1B
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 31 Mar 20263 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 9 Sep 20266 months to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 11 Feb 2028 - 10 Feb 2043 Over 5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planned
- Lots Status
- Planned
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED
- Additional Buyers
- 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
- 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/030010-2026
31st March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028759-2026
27th March 2026 - Pipeline 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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