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Rail Haulage

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

30 Sep 2026 at 18:33

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

28 May 2026 at 12:04

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is seeking suppliers for a national rail haulage and distribution operation supporting railway materials and engineering work. The requirement has three lots: operating Local Distribution Centres (LDCs), moving materials by rail between LDCs and suppliers on regular timetabled services, and hauling materials from LDCs to Network Rail worksites for planned possessions as required. LDC operations include shunting and marshalling wagons to receive and prepare services. The five named centres are Bescot, Carlisle Kingmoor, Eastleigh, Millerhill and Whitemoor. Network Services are divided into 25 route bundles. Delivery is across the United Kingdom, with work at the named centres, along rail routes and at Network Rail worksites. The procurement is for railway transport services.

Network Rail invited offers through a competitive flexible procedure, with a selective process requiring a Procurement Specific Questionnaire before successful participants are invited to tender. The enquiry deadline was 18 November 2026 at 23:59, and the expression-of-interest deadline was 2 December 2026 at 23:59. The contract period is 1 April 2028 to 31 March 2035, with a one-year extension option at Network Rail’s discretion, to 31 March 2036. The overall estimated value is £949.9 million excluding VAT (£1.1399 billion including VAT). There are three lots, including 25 route bundles for Network Services. Evaluation is weighted 30% technical and 70% commercial; technical assessment covers safety, sustainability, capability, capacity, mobilisation and continuous improvement. The lowest price receives full commercial marks, with scores adjusted against it.

This opportunity suits rail haulage and logistics businesses able to operate across a national network and support both scheduled and demand-led movements. Suppliers bidding for the LDC work need to manage shunting and wagon marshalling at operational distribution centres. Network Services require regular, timetabled movement of materials between centres and suppliers, while Possession Services require the capacity to deliver materials from centres to railway worksites as needed. The technical assessment puts weight on safety, sustainability, mobilisation, continuous improvement, and demonstrable capability and capacity, so bidders should be ready to evidence robust operating arrangements and the resources to deliver their chosen lot or route bundle. Small and medium-sized businesses are explicitly considered suitable for the LDC operation. Quality accounts for 30% of scoring, alongside a substantial price assessment.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Rail Haulage

Notice Description

National requirement for rail haulage possession hours and operation of Local Distribution Centres.

Lot Information

Operation of Network Rail's Local Distribution Centres (LDCs)

Operation of of the Local Distribution Centres (LDCs) which involves the shunting and marshalling of wagons at a specific location to receive/prepare Network Services and Possession Services. The LDCs are based in: - Bescot - Carlisle Kingmoor - Eastleigh - Millerhill - Whitemoor

Renewal: 1 year extension option to be used at the discretion of Network Rail.

Operation of Network Services

Operation of Network Services involves the operation of rail haulage between Local Distribution Centres to and from material suppliers on a regular timetabled basis. This lot is split into 25 Route bundles details of which have been detailed in the tender pack which can be found here: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

Renewal: 1 year extension option to be used at the discretion of Network Rail.

Operation of Possession Services

Operation of Possession Services involves the operation of rail haulage services from Local Distribution Centres to Network Rail worksites on an as-required basis.

Renewal: 1 year extension option to be used at the discretion of Network Rail.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a771
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092602-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60200000 - Railway transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£949,900,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
8 Dec 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2028 - 31 Mar 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2034-01-06

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
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
Postcode Area
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

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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