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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 12:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 Jul 2026 at 10:55

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Chiltern Railway Company Limited, a private utility, is undertaking a procurement process to replace its existing Compass system, due to become unsupported in December 2027. This procurement falls under the software package and information systems category, inclusive of IT and support services. Engagement began on 21 July 2026, with key deadlines such as clarification questions due by 4 August 2026, and final responses due by 17 August 2026, all through Market Dojo. The process aims to prepare for a seamless system replacement by March 2027 across their Sunderland location, following a strategic planning stage guided by preliminary market engagement notices.

This procurement represents an opportunity for businesses specialising in software solutions, system integration, and IT services to engage with a significant player in the UK’s rail sector. Companies with expertise in Software as a Service (SaaS), data migration, and interfacing with external systems such as Network Rail's TRUST system will find this tender especially pertinent. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also encouraged to participate, as the procurement process is designed to support modular or specialist solutions, offering potential for growth through innovation and tailored service delivery.

How relevant is this notice?

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 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Aug 20264 weeks to go
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
Post Town
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)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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