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

Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

05 Aug 2026 at 12:08

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited procured three additional next-generation road-rail Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP) Type D vehicles for the Western Route. The vehicles are based on a First of Type design developed for the newly electrified route and are intended for safe and efficient inspection, maintenance and repair of overhead line equipment. They include bespoke design features and enhanced capabilities beyond a standard MEWP, with compatibility for rail and road operation. The requirement is for railway maintenance or service vehicles, delivered for use across the Western Route in the United Kingdom. The vehicles support Network Rail’s operational fleet and the specialist engineering activities needed to maintain overhead line equipment safely.

The procurement is complete and was conducted as a direct award to Fitzgerald Plant Services, following the supplier’s earlier competitive tender for the First of Type vehicle. One lot covered the requirement. The awarded value is £2,548,700 excluding VAT, or £3,058,440 including VAT. The contract period runs from 2 October 2026 to 31 January 2029. The direct award was justified because Fitzgerald developed the compliant First of Type vehicle and the three required units are direct replications of the established design. Network Rail cited completed development, testing and validation, an Engineering Compliance Certificate, operational compatibility, common spare parts and standardised training, while using another supplier would require redesign, assurance, testing and approval.

This procurement indicates demand for specialist rail-road access vehicles designed for overhead line equipment maintenance, rather than standard mobile platforms. Suppliers competing for comparable future requirements would need capability in road-rail vehicle design and manufacture, bespoke engineering for electrified railway operations, and the integration of elevated working equipment with operational safety requirements. Credibility would also depend on demonstrable experience of development, testing, validation and engineering assurance for vehicles used on the rail network, including securing the necessary compliance approval for operational use. A strong competitor would need to offer fleet compatibility, dependable maintenance support, commonality of parts and practical training arrangements for operators and maintainers. The buyer’s direct-award rationale shows that proven design continuity and reduced technical risk are important commercial factors.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

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.

Notice Details

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 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 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

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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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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