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Design & Build of Long Welded Rail Trains

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

02 Nov 2026 at 07:56

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

30 Jul 2026 at 15:52

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is planning to procure the design and build of modular manual rail-handling equipment for long-welded rail trains (LWRTs). The equipment will be integrated with a separately selected UK-approved wagon to create the trains. The anticipated fleet is approximately eight trains, with a possible further three. Each train is expected to carry at least 24 rails and support both rail delivery and recovery; remote operation of the handling equipment is envisaged to reduce manual work and improve safety. The buying organisation is Network Rail. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. The procurement is for railway freight wagons and associated rail-service equipment (CPV 34621000).

This is at the planning stage: Network Rail has stated its intention to procure, and there is no invitation to tender yet. The expected route is a competitive flexible procedure. The buyer’s current estimated value is £140,153,344.43 excluding VAT (£168,184,013.32 including VAT). The planned contract period runs from 24 March 2028 to 23 March 2036. Network Rail expects to publish a future notice by 31 March 2027; this is an indicative publication expectation, not a bid deadline. The procurement is planned as a single lot. Earlier market engagement considered procuring wagons and handling equipment separately and using modular designs with intermodal wagons; the stated procurement is for modular manual handling equipment, to be integrated with the chosen wagon.

The work is likely to suit suppliers able to design and build modular rail-material-handling equipment for integration with railway wagons, and to deliver equipment that supports both rail delivery and recovery. Relevant capabilities include handling at least 24 rails per train and providing remotely operated equipment intended to reduce manual intervention and improve operational safety. Suppliers with experience coordinating equipment design and build with a separately selected, UK-approved wagon may be well placed to prepare. The anticipated fleet and long contract period point to a substantial, technically demanding supply programme rather than a small one-off equipment purchase. Network Rail has indicated that SMEs may be suitable for the procurement; the planned lot also marks VCSEs as suitable. Earlier engagement has informed consideration of modular designs and separate wagon and equipment procurement. No specific accreditation or experience threshold is stated at this planning stage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Design & Build of Long Welded Rail Trains

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 + 3 LWRTs. * 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 was 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. This procurement shall be for the Manual Handling Equipment, design and build, as a modular solution. This will then be entegrated with the chosen UK approved wagon to ultimatley build the LWRT.

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/103511-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
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

34621100 - Railway freight wagons

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£140,153,344 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Nov 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Mar 20275 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
24 Mar 2028 - 23 Mar 2036 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
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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