Planning

Provision of Customer Information Solution Software, Support & Maintenance

NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

29 Apr 2026 at 08:11

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northern Trains Limited is actively planning the procurement of a new provision for Customer Information Solution Software, Support & Maintenance, aimed at enhancing its network-wide customer communication systems. The procurement process is currently in the planning stage, with a market engagement call scheduled for 11 May 2026. Interested suppliers are invited to express their interest by 8 May 2026. The procurement is governed by the UK Public General Acts, and it targets industry categories including industry-specific software packages, communication and multimedia software, and passenger information systems. This procurement is essential for areas in the United Kingdom, specifically the regions UKC, UKD, and UKE, and is part of the utilities regime, highlighting the significant investment Northern Trains is making in its public transport services.

This tender represents substantial opportunities for businesses involved in software development, particularly those specialising in communication systems and passenger information solutions. Companies capable of providing advanced software and hardware to support visual and auditory information display across large railway networks are encouraged to participate. The opportunity is open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering a potential contract period extending from 2027 to 2031, with possible renewals up to 2035. Suppliers that can develop solutions aligning with Northern Trains' complex operational requirements stand to gain significant exposure and commercial growth, particularly in innovating components like real-time passenger data and advanced disruption messaging systems. This engagement highlights the contracting authority's commitment to modernising its customer information infrastructure through collaborative supplier partnerships.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Customer Information Solution Software, Support & Maintenance

Notice Description

Northern Trains Limited is seeking to replace its existing Customer Information System software by July 2027 and are therefore looking to engage the supply market to understand the available solutions currently deployed in similar organisations. The proposed solution should consider the complex nature of Northern's extensive network: * 2,500 services run per day * 474 stations * 345 trains * 3,158km of route * 1650 Customer Information screens * 400 Public Address devices. Northern will be looking to procure a solution that enables the following core functionality: * Provide both visual and audible customer information across the network. * Provide a cloud or 3rd party hosted, browser-based control system supporting multiple operator workstations. * The ability to ingest train running data from Rail Delivery Group, Network Rail and other providers. * Provide route/order views of stations and visibility of what PA is playing and CIS is showing. * Use standardised station components and align with the Northern's display protocol / Northern standard display functionality and provider. * Ability to interface with rolling stock allocation systems to allow train orientation and characteristics to be shared * Ability to interface with on train systems to provide real time passenger loading vehicle data Northern are also keen to explore additional capabilities within the marketplace that would offer the following enhancements to the solution (the following list is non-exhaustive and Suppliers are encouraged to demonstrate any functionality not listed that would complement the solution based on the requirements above): * Provide a Web CIS URL per station with configurable look-ahead/pages, usable on TVMs. * Expand disruption messaging so customers beyond the disruption point can see clearer impact, cause and location. * Support a large library of additional phrases for display and PA. * Provide engineering works / improvement work announcement templates with selectable parameters and scheduling. * Charter services with force destination display and include restriction remarks. * Enhanced short-platform guidance that supports rear/middle boarding across both PA and displays.

Planning Information

Northern invites Suppliers to register their interest in attending a briefing call hosted by the Project Team & Procurement Manager to discuss the requirements in further detail. The briefing call will be hosted on Teams on 11/05/2026 for all suppliers to attend. If you are interested in attending the briefing call please send an expression of interest to Alex Ashman (alexander.ashman@northernrailway.co.uk) along with a high level technical specification document outlining how the solution works, including station network and hardware requirements. Expressions of interest are to be submitted by 08/05/2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068d78
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038928-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48100000 - Industry specific software package

48500000 - Communication and multimedia software package

48813000 - Passenger information system

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Apr 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 May 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
21 Jul 2027 - 21 Jul 2031 4-5 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
NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
YORK
Postcode
YO1 6JT
Post Town
York
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE2 North Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE21 York
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Local Authority
York
Electoral Ward
Micklegate
Westminster Constituency
York Central

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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