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Chiltern Railways - Compass System Replacement

THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

23 Jul 2026 at 13:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 Jul 2026 at 11:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Chiltern Railways is exploring software and related services to replace its existing Compass system, which will become unsupported in December 2027. The replacement is expected to cover operational event and incident logging; train delay monitoring, analysis and reporting, including receipt and processing of performance data from Network Rail’s TRUST system; and performance action logging and tracking. The possible scope includes software licensing or subscriptions, hosting, implementation, configuration, development, migration of current and historical data, integration with Chiltern and external systems, testing, user acceptance support, training, change management, technical support, maintenance, updates, backup, business continuity and disaster recovery. The buyer is Chiltern Railway Company Limited. Work would support Chiltern Railways’ operations, primarily through a hosted or software-as-a-service solution, although alternatives may be considered.

This process is at preliminary market engagement and is not an invitation to tender. Chiltern expects to use supplier responses to decide whether a future procurement should be a single contract, separate lots or separate procurement exercises, and whether one end-to-end solution, separate modules or integrated specialist systems are most suitable. The engagement started on 21 July 2026. Suppliers can request access to the electronic Market Dojo event; clarification questions are due by 14:00 on 4 August 2026, with consolidated responses intended by 7 August 2026, and completed RFI responses due by 14:00 on 17 August 2026. Further discussions or demonstrations may follow. The anticipated contract period is 1 March 2027 to 1 March 2032. Chiltern is seeking commercial models, indicative pricing and implementation timescales.

This engagement will suit software suppliers, systems integrators and specialist rail or transport technology providers able to deliver hosted or software-as-a-service platforms, or credible alternative delivery models. Relevant capability includes operational incident management, delay and performance analytics, action tracking, data migration and integration with Network Rail’s TRUST system and other business systems. Suppliers should be prepared to explain implementation, configuration, development, testing, user acceptance, training, change management, support, maintenance, updates and resilient backup, continuity and disaster-recovery arrangements. The replacement must be implemented, tested and operational before the existing system becomes unsupported in December 2027, so delivery planning and transition experience will matter. The service would support approximately 329 named users, including substantial read-only use, with around 289 delay-module users and 311 action-tracking users. Small and medium-sized enterprises are identified as suitable.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Chiltern Railways - Compass System Replacement

Notice Description

Chiltern Railways is undertaking preliminary market engagement in relation to the potential procurement of one or more software solutions to replace its existing Compass system, which is due to become unsupported from December 2027. The anticipated requirement comprises three principal areas: Operational event and incident logging; Delay monitoring, analysis and reporting, including the receipt and processing of train performance data from Network Rail's TRUST system; and Performance action logging and tracking. Chiltern is seeking to understand whether these requirements are best delivered through a single end-to-end solution, separate modules or specialist systems integrated with one another. The outcome of this market engagement will help determine whether any future procurement is undertaken as a single contract, separate lots or separate procurement exercises. The anticipated scope of supply may include: Software licensing or subscription services; System hosting; Implementation, configuration and any required development; Migration of current and historical data from Compass; Integration with Chiltern and external systems, including TRUST; Testing and user acceptance support; Training and change-management support; Ongoing technical support, maintenance and system updates; and Backup, business continuity and disaster-recovery arrangements. The current system has approximately 329 named users. All 329 users have access to the Events module, approximately 289 have access to the Delays module and approximately 311 have access to the Action Tracking module. Of the 329 named users, 208 have logged into the system during 2026. A significant proportion of users require read-only access. Chiltern anticipates that the replacement solution will primarily be delivered as a hosted or software-as-a-service solution, although suppliers are invited to propose alternative delivery models where appropriate. The estimated contract value, contract duration and final procurement structure have not yet been determined. Suppliers are therefore being asked to provide information on available commercial models, indicative pricing, implementation timescales and the main factors affecting cost. Any future solution would need to be implemented, tested and operational before the existing Compass system becomes unsupported in December 2027. This is preliminary market engagement only and does not constitute an invitation to tender or a commitment by Chiltern Railways to commence a future procurement. The purpose is to help Chiltern understand market capability and develop its requirements, commercial approach and procurement strategy, which is consistent with the intended function of preliminary market engagement under the Procurement Act 2023.

Planning Information

This preliminary market engagement will be conducted electronically through Market Dojo. No physical supplier events are currently planned. The engagement will commence on Tuesday 21 July 2026. Suppliers will be provided with access to the Request for Information questionnaire, the draft requirements spreadsheet and the relevant background information through Market Dojo. Suppliers wishing to participate should email Frank.molloy@chilternrailways.co.uk and request an invitation to the Compass Replacement Market Dojo event. The email should include the supplier's organisation name and the name and contact details of the person who should be invited. Once access has been provided, all communications relating to the engagement must take place through Market Dojo. This includes the submission of clarification questions, Chiltern Railways' responses to those questions and the submission of completed RFI responses. Clarification questions must be submitted through Market Dojo by 14:00 on Tuesday 4 August 2026. Chiltern Railways intends to issue consolidated responses to clarification questions through Market Dojo by Friday 7 August 2026. Completed responses must be submitted through Market Dojo by 14:00 on Monday 17 August 2026. Following review of the responses, Chiltern Railways may invite suppliers to participate in further market engagement discussions or solution demonstrations. Any further sessions will be arranged separately and will remain part of the preliminary market engagement process.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cfbc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069718-2026
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

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

72222300 - Information technology services

72250000 - System and support services

72263000 - Software implementation services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2027 - 1 Mar 2032 Over 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
THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY 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
SUNDERLAND
Postcode
SR3 3XP
Postcode Area
Sunderland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC44 Sunderland
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Sunderland
Electoral Ward
Doxford
Westminster Constituency
Houghton and Sunderland South

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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