This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

05 Aug 2026 at 11:08

Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has completed a procurement process titled "New Generation Road Rail MEWPs (Type D) Vehicles 2 - 4 – Western Route". This procurement belongs to the railway industry category and took place in London, UK, with the main procurement stage being the award. The procurement method was a direct award following a competitive tender process held in 2021. This contract focuses on enhancing railway maintenance services, specifically through the acquisition of additional Road Rail Mobile Elevated Working Platforms (MEWPs). The award notice was published on 5th August 2026, with the contract expected to commence on 2nd October 2026 and conclude on 31st January 2029. The award amount is valued at £3,058,440, with Fitzgerald Plant Services as the awardee.

This tender presents significant opportunities for companies involved in railway maintenance equipment production, particularly those specialising in developing bespoke vehicles with enhanced capabilities for safety and operational efficiency. Businesses that can offer complementary services or maintenance support for rail infrastructures, especially those accustomed to dealing with electrified routes, would be well-positioned to benefit from potential future collaborations. Given the specific technical requirements and the focus on continuity, companies experienced in scaling operations with existing clients like Network Rail will find favourable growth opportunities. By facilitating the delivery of vehicles with proven designs, businesses can leverage this contract to enhance their profiles within the railway maintenance sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

New Generation Road Rail MEWPs (Type D) Vehicles 2 - 4 - Western Route

Notice Description

A competitive tender process was undertaken in 2021 to procure a First of Type (FOT) next-generation Road Rail Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) designed specifically to meet the requirements of the newly electrified Western Route. Following this competition, Fitzgerald Plant Services was awarded the contract and has since worked collaboratively with Network Rail to develop and refine the vehicle to meet the unique operational and safety requirements associated with maintaining Overhead Line Equipment (OLE). The resulting vehicle incorporates bespoke design features and enhanced capabilities beyond those of a standard MEWP, enabling the safe and efficient undertaking of OLE inspection, maintenance and repair activities. Network Rail now requires 3 further vehicles based on the FOT to meet the requirements of the route.

Procurement Information

A competitive tender process was undertaken in 2021 to procure a First of Type (FOT) next-generation Road Rail Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) designed specifically to meet the requirements of the newly electrified Western Route. Following this competition, Fitzgerald Plant Services was awarded the contract and has since worked collaboratively with Network Rail to develop and refine the vehicle to meet the unique operational and safety requirements associated with maintaining Overhead Line Equipment (OLE). The resulting vehicle incorporates bespoke design features and enhanced capabilities beyond those of a standard MEWP, enabling the safe and efficient undertaking of OLE inspection, maintenance and repair activities. Extensive development, testing and validation have been completed, culminating in the vehicle receiving its Engineering Compliance Certificate and demonstrating its suitability for operational use on the route. Network Rail now requires the purchase of an additional three vehicles to support maintenance activities across the Western Route. These vehicles will be based on the proven FOT design, ensuring full operational compatibility, consistency in maintenance practices, commonality of spare parts, and standardisation of training requirements for operators and maintainers. Procuring additional vehicles from an alternative supplier would require significant redesign, engineering assurance, testing and approval activities to demonstrate compliance with Network Rail's operational requirements, resulting in increased costs, programme delays and additional technical risk. As Fitzgerald Plant Services is the original developer and supplier of the compliant FOT vehicle, and the required units are a direct replication of the established design, the procurement can only be effectively delivered through this supplier. Awarding the contract to Fitzgerald Plant Services will ensure continuity of service, maintain standardisation across the fleet, minimise operational and safety risks, and provide best value by leveraging the significant investment already made in the development, testing and approval of the existing solution.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dc3a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074127-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation


CPV Codes

34621200 - Railway maintenance or service vehicles

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£2,548,700 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Aug 2026Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Aug 2026Today
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Jan 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE 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
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 8SW
Post Town
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

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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