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Train Services Agreement in relation to a fleet of class 350 electric multiple units and associated equipment

Northern Trains Limited

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

27 Jul 2026 at 16:43

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

13 Jul 2026 at 17:55

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northern Trains Limited procured train maintenance services for 37 Class 350/2 electric multiple units and associated equipment. The scope covers maintenance planning, technical records, scheduled light maintenance and overhauls, in-service and train recovery support, fault finding, spare-parts procurement and management, on-train systems, and specified interior and exterior cleaning. It also includes ad hoc repairs and non-scheduled maintenance for damage, vandalism and accidents. The requirement supports Northern’s operation of the electric fleet across North East England, North West England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the East Midlands. Northern Trains Limited is the buying organisation. The main category is rolling-stock repair and maintenance services, including both routine and heavy maintenance.

The procurement has been completed and awarded through a direct award under the utilities regime. Siemens Mobility Limited was selected on 13 July 2026, with the award recorded as active. The award value is £158,239,856 excluding VAT, or £189,887,827 including VAT; additional services were estimated at £14.02 million. The contract period runs from 17 August 2026 to 16 August 2042, for 16 years, with Northern able to break the agreement after eight years in August 2034 if reliability and availability targets are not met. The award covers one lot. The direct award was justified by technical reasons: Siemens manufactures the trains, is undertaking modifications, has a nearby maintenance facility, and was specified by the lessor as the required maintainer.

This award demonstrates substantial, long-term demand from Northern Trains for integrated rolling-stock maintenance rather than a narrow repair service. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need capability across fleet maintenance planning, technical records, scheduled light and heavy maintenance, overhaul work, fault diagnosis, train recovery and in-service technical support. It would also need robust control of spare parts, maintenance and repair arrangements for on-train systems, and the capacity to deliver cleaning and accident, vandalism and other damage repairs. Evidence of maintaining comparable electric multiple-unit fleets, operating suitable facilities near the routes served, meeting reliability and availability targets, and working within a lessor’s technical requirements would be particularly relevant.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Train Services Agreement in relation to a fleet of class 350 electric multiple units and associated equipment

Notice Description

Direct Award of a 16-year Train Services Agreement for the provision of train maintenance services (including light and heavy maintenance and certain cleaning activities) in relation to Northern Trains Limited's ("Northern") leasing of a fleet of 37 Class 350/2 electric multiple units. Additional services will be provided to rectify damage arising from, for example, vandalism and accidents. The Train Services Agreement includes an ability for Northern to break the agreement after 8 years (in August 2034) where the rolling stock fails to meet performance targets in respect of reliability and availability. The fee is paid based on the mileage covered by the electric multiple units and this reflects the estimated value contained in this notice. The scope of standard services includes all maintenance planning, management of technical records, scheduled maintenance (including both light maintenance and overhauls), in-service and train recovery technical support, fault finding, the procurement and management (including maintenance, repair and overhaul) of all spares, maintenance and management of on-train systems, and certain interior and exterior cleaning of the electric multiple units. Additional services (being non-scheduled maintenance and repairs required due to, for example, damage, vandalism and accidents) may be provided on an ad hoc basis and charged as an additional cost using agreed hourly rates and, where stated, applicable parts rates. Based upon benchmarking data, it is estimated that the cost of additional services could total PS14.02 million. The Train Services Agreement contains a right to transfer or sub-let the agreement to certain third parties in specified circumstances and an obligation for the service provider to enter into a direct agreement with the Secretary of State in parallel to the Train Services Agreement. The direct agreement permits the Secretary of State to call for a new contract in the event of the termination or expiry of Northern's services agreement with the Secretary of State. The duration of the new contract would typically be up to 3 years and the terms of the new contract and the circumstances in which the direct agreement can be relied upon are all unambiguously set out in the direct agreement. The Train Services Agreement also contains mechanisms under which additional services can be requested in the circumstances prescribed in the Train Services Agreement and can be modified to deal with a change in law, a change to the relevant consent or relevant rules or procedures, or a change in the Operator's Safety Management System (the "Change Provisions"). In the event that the agreement is transferred or sub-let to a third party, the direct agreement is relied upon by the Secretary of State or any of the Change Provisions are engaged, it is considered that these would be permitted modifications provided for in the contract.

Procurement Information

Due to reducing performance of its current class 323 fleet, Northern requires introduction of a fleet of trains which will continue to meet its operational and capacity requirements to replace that existing fleet for at least its current term. Having carried out a detailed market review, and having consulted with third parties, Northern identified the proposed class 350 fleet as the only train fleet which met its technical, operational and capacity requirements for the relevant service provision within the required timeframe. Northern had not identified any reasonable alternative to the leasing of the class 350 fleet, and separately intend to enter into a lease of the fleet on a direct award basis which is the subject of a separate transparency notice published on or about the date of this notice. In order to meet the requirements of the lessor of the class 350 fleet, Northern are required by the lessor to obtain maintenance of the fleet from a service provider that meets the requirements of the lessor and who can also make the fleet available to Northern at the required locations. The proposed service provider is the manufacturer of the Class 350 fleet, is currently carrying out modifications to the fleet prior to lease to Northern, has a maintenance location close to the primary area of operation of the fleet and has been specified by the lessor as the required maintainer of the fleet. Northern therefore intend to direct award on that basis in accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 Procurement Act 2023.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c9fd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070929-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50222000 - Repair and maintenance services of rolling stock

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£158,239,856 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
17 Aug 2026 - 17 Aug 2042 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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
Postcode Area
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
Not specified
Local Authority
York
Electoral Ward
Micklegate
Westminster Constituency
York Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Siemens Mobility Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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