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Train Services Agreement

TRANSPORT UK EAST MIDLANDS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

01 Oct 2026 at 16:12

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport UK East Midlands Limited is buying continued maintenance and engineering support for its Class 222 passenger train fleet. The work covers scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, technical engineering support, fleet reliability activities and related services needed to keep the trains safe, reliable and available for passenger operations. Delivery is centred on Etches Park depot, where the fleet has been maintained and the work is embedded in depot operations. The requirement supports continued passenger services while the Class 222 fleet is withdrawn and the new Class 810 fleet is introduced. This is rail rolling-stock maintenance and engineering work (CPV 50222000), with railway maintenance or service vehicles also classified in the procurement.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to Hitachi Rail UK Limited. Transport UK East Midlands Limited used a limited procedure, negotiating without publishing a contract notice; the stated basis was that technical reasons left no competition, because replacing the incumbent was considered to create substantial mobilisation and transition risks to service continuity. The single lot covers the Class 222 fleet services. The contract was signed on 1 October 2026 and is active, with a value of £1.6 million. The services are required through to the fleet’s planned redelivery in 2027. The buyer may extend the agreement for up to six months beyond 22 August 2027, to a maximum expiry date of 22 February 2028, to support withdrawal and transition activities.

For suppliers considering similar rail fleet work for Transport UK East Midlands, this award shows the importance of maintaining safe, reliable passenger operations through a fleet transition. A credible competitor would need hands-on knowledge of the relevant rolling stock, established maintenance capability and the engineering expertise to deliver both planned and unplanned work, reliability improvement and ongoing safety compliance. The requirement was integrated with operations at Etches Park depot, so the ability to work within an established depot environment and avoid disruption would be central. The buyer’s rationale also points to mobilisation, knowledge transfer, training and integration as significant risks when changing providers. Suppliers would therefore need to demonstrate continuity, fleet availability and a controlled transition capability, alongside capacity to support vehicle withdrawal and the introduction and stabilisation of replacement trains.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Train Services Agreement

Notice Description

Train Services Agreement for the continued provision of maintenance and engineering support services for the Class 222 fleet to maintain safe and reliable passenger operations through to fleet redelivery in 2027. The services continue the arrangements originally procured under F05 Notice 2022/S 000-013411 for the provision of short-term maintenance services for the Class 222 fleet.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Due to delays in the introduction of its new intercity rolling stock, East Midlands Railway is extending the lease of its incumbent Class 222 fleet and therefore requires the continued provision of maintenance and engineering support services for its Class 222 fleet. The scope of services includes scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, technical engineering support, fleet reliability activities and associated services necessary to ensure the continued safe and effective operation of the fleet. The contract is required to maintain continuity of maintenance provision at Etches Park depot where the maintenance of the fleet has been carried out for a number of years and is embedded within depot operations and avoid disruption to passenger rail services whilst longer-term arrangements are implemented. The services support fleet availability, operational performance, safety compliance and the ongoing delivery of passenger services.

Options: To minimise any delays and/or disruption, EMR may, exercise an option to extend the amended agreement for a further period of up to six months beyond 22 August 2027, resulting in a maximum expiry date of 22 February 2028. The extension may be exercised to support completion of the Class 222 fleet withdrawal programme, vehicle return activities, associated transition obligations and the phased introduction and stabilisation of the Class 810 fleet and does not contravene any onward leasing arrangements.

Procurement Information

Transport UK East Midlands Limited intends to award a contract to Hitachi Rail Limited without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016. The contract relates to the continued provision of maintenance services for the Class 222 fleet. The services are required to ensure the safe, reliable and uninterrupted operation of passenger rail services during the period leading up to completion of the Class 222 fleet withdrawal programme and introduction of the Class 810 fleet. A change of supplier during this period would create significant operational, technical and programme risks. Hitachi Rail Limited possesses detailed knowledge of the fleet, the existing maintenance arrangements and the associated transition programme. The appointment of an alternative supplier would require substantial mobilisation, knowledge transfer, training and integration activities, resulting in duplication of cost and unacceptable risk to fleet availability and service continuity. The contracting authority considers that the contract may therefore be awarded without prior publication of a contract notice because competition is absent for technical reasons within the meaning of the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016, as the services can only be provided by the existing provider without causing significant operational disruption and unacceptable risk to service continuity. The duration of the contract is limited to the period necessary to support withdrawal of the Class 222 fleet and the transition to the Class 810 fleet.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077efd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093002-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

34621200 - Railway maintenance or service vehicles

50222000 - Repair and maintenance services of rolling stock

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£1,600,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
1 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
TRANSPORT UK EAST MIDLANDS 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
EC4A 3AG
Postcode Area
Central London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
TLF East Midlands (England)
Local Authority
City of London
Electoral Ward
Castle Baynard
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Hitachi Rail

Further Information

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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