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UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice RDF

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Jul 2026 at 15:52

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is considering the replacement of its existing fleet of Rail Delivery Trains and Long-Welded Rail Trains. The anticipated requirement is for approximately 8–11 locomotive-hauled trains able to deliver and recover rail, with capacity for at least 24 rails per train. The trains are expected to include remotely operated rail-handling equipment, reducing manual intervention and improving operational safety. The procurement is for railway maintenance vehicles and freight wagons, including possible separate wagons and material-handling equipment or a modular design using intermodal wagons. The fleet would support Network Rail’s rail operations across the United Kingdom. The main category is goods, specifically railway maintenance or service vehicles and railway freight wagons.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is not an invitation to tender. Network Rail is conducting preliminary market engagement to test possible sourcing and technical requirements, including separate procurement of wagons and material-handling equipment and modular intermodal-wagon designs. Suppliers are asked to provide market feedback on appetite, design risks, delivery risks and likely timescales through the buyer’s procurement system by 27 August 2026. Network Rail expects the next notice to be published on 1 September 2026. The planned procurement has an estimated value of £130,000,000 excluding VAT, or £156,000,000 including VAT. One planned lot is expected to run from 1 August 2028 to 31 July 2030.

This will suit manufacturers, rolling-stock specialists and engineering businesses able to develop or supply locomotive-hauled rail delivery and recovery trains. Relevant capability includes designing vehicles that can carry at least 24 rails per train, integrate remotely operated rail-handling equipment and support safe, low-manual-intervention operations. Suppliers with expertise in freight wagons, material-handling equipment, intermodal wagon platforms, modular rail vehicle design, systems integration and fleet delivery should be well placed to contribute. The engagement is also relevant to businesses that can advise on sourcing strategy, technical requirements, market appetite, design risk and delivery planning. Network Rail has indicated that the requirement may be suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises when it reaches the market. It is currently a preparation exercise, not a bid opportunity.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice RDF

Notice Description

Network Rail's existing fleet of Rail Delivery Trains (RDTs) and Long-Welded Rail Trains (LWRTs) is approaching the point at which replacement options must be considered. Network Rail currently anticipates a future requirement for: * A fleet of approximately 8-11 trains. * A locomotive-hauled solution capable of both rail delivery and rail recovery activities. * A solution capable of carrying a minimum of 24 rails per train. * Remote operation of rail handling equipment to minimise manual intervention and improve operational safety. Engagement undertaken with the market to date has identified several opportunities for consideration as part of the sourcing strategy and technical requirements, including separate procurement of wagons and material handling equipment (MHE), and the development of a modular design making use of intermodal wagons. Network Rail requires market feedback to determine whether these opportunities should be established as requirements within the sourcing activity. Market feedback is therefore sought to help Network Rail understand the implications of adopting these requirements, including: * Impact on market appetite * Impact on design and delivery risks and timescales

Planning Information

Please submit response to the questionnaire via our procurement systems Bravo NR https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d7fd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072336-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34621000 - Railway maintenance or service vehicles, and railway freight wagons

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£130,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Aug 2028 - 31 Jul 2030 1-2 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
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)

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