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Rail Operating system and Software support

SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 16:30

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

20 Aug 2026 at 16:25

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

South Western Railway Limited procured rail operating system and software support services from Worldline IT Services UK Limited. The requirement is for a platform that supports stock and crew rostering and train planning, enabling delivery of the train service. The work covers IT services including software development, consulting and ongoing support. It relates to business-critical systems integrated into the railway operator’s operational architecture and supports continuity while a partial replacement system is implemented and the remaining requirements are tendered. Delivery covers locations across England, including London and the English regions. This is a single-service requirement for a public undertaking operating in the utilities sector, aimed at maintaining reliable railway operations through integrated planning and rostering technology.

The procurement is complete and was awarded on 20 August 2026 after a direct award. Worldline IT Services UK Limited was selected for the single lot. The award is worth £4,307,434 excluding VAT, or £5,168,920.80 including VAT. The contract period runs from 2 September 2026 to 31 March 2031, with signature scheduled for 2 September 2026. South Western Railway justified the direct award because Worldline’s systems are business-critical and deeply integrated, while replacement requires 12–18 months of scoping, development, migration, testing and parallel running. Operating both systems is intended to avoid disruption while the replacement platform is implemented. The stated basis included exclusive intellectual property or rights held by a single supplier.

This award indicates demand from South Western Railway for specialist rail-operating technology that combines stock management, crew rostering and train planning with reliable software support. Competitors seeking similar work would need proven capability in complex operational platforms, software development, system integration, migration and testing, together with the capacity to support concurrent legacy and replacement systems. Experience of business-critical environments is particularly relevant, as is the ability to maintain service reliability while changes are designed, implemented and tested. Suppliers would also need to understand railway operational requirements and demonstrate that their technology can integrate into an established architecture. The direct-award rationale shows that deep system integration, intellectual property or exclusive rights, continuity and substantial transition capacity were decisive factors for this buyer.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Rail Operating system and Software support

Notice Description

Provision of a platform to allow stock and crew rostering and train planning for delivery of the train service. Direct award for an interim period to allow continuity of service whilst a partial replacement system is implemented and the remainder is tendered.

Procurement Information

Worldline systems are business-critical, deeply integrated into SWR's operational architecture, and cannot be replaced without 12-18 months of scoping, development, migration, testing, and parallel running. The replacement platform is still being implemented, requiring both systems to operate concurrently to maintain operational reliability and avoid unacceptable service disruption. The original agreement cannot be extended, and no suitable DPS or competitive procedure could be completed within the required timescales without materially impacting rail service delivery.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e8ff
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079635-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£4,307,434 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
2 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY 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 9LQ
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)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
Borough & Bankside
Westminster Constituency
Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Worldline IT Services UK Limited

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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