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Rail Replacement Service Ticket Acceptance Service Routes

Transport for Wales Rail Limited (Utility Buyer)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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05 Oct 2026 at 14:33

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for Wales Rail Limited is arranging ticket acceptance on scheduled local bus services as an alternative for passengers when rail services are disrupted. Customers with valid rail tickets or eligible concessionary rail passes can use designated bus routes where these provide a suitable substitute. The arrangements can support planned disruption, emergencies and other ad hoc incidents, including where existing buses have spare capacity. The aim is to keep passenger journeys moving, support integrated public transport and avoid dedicated rail replacement vehicles where a suitable bus service is available. The work is road transport services, delivered on routes in Wales and cross-border areas. It is tied to existing public bus routes, rather than a requirement to operate dedicated replacement coaches.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to Stagecoach Services Limited. Transport for Wales Rail Limited used a direct award, stating that only operators with exclusive rights to suitable bus routes can provide the alternative journeys and that there are no reasonable alternatives. The award value is £2,173,469.03 excluding VAT (£2,608,162.84 including VAT). The contract period is 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2031, with an extension option to 31 October 2032 to align with the TfW Bus Franchising Programme. One lot covered the requirement. The buyer may adjust service volumes for passenger demand, timetable changes or operational needs, and extend coverage to additional routes or areas. Ticket acceptance may be activated as required for disruption.

For suppliers assessing comparable future work from Transport for Wales, this award shows demand for using established bus networks as a practical contingency when rail services are disrupted. A credible provider would need to operate the relevant scheduled local bus routes and have the exclusive route rights that make its services a suitable alternative; the buyer’s stated justification depends on there being no reasonable alternative operator. Providers also need to accommodate rail-ticket and eligible concessionary-pass acceptance, support passengers during planned and unplanned disruption, and respond to variable needs as events occur. Operational flexibility matters: service volumes may change with demand, timetables and operating requirements, and arrangements may extend to additional routes, local authority areas and cross-border services. The model is suited to established operators with capacity on existing services, rather than suppliers whose offer depends solely on dedicated rail-replacement vehicles.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Rail Replacement Service Ticket Acceptance Service Routes

Notice Description

Transport for Wales Rail Limited (TfWRL) intends to award contracts directly to specified bus operators to establish ticket acceptance arrangements during planned and unplanned rail service disruption. The contracts will enable customers holding valid rail tickets or eligible concessionary rail passes to travel on designated scheduled local bus services where those services provide a suitable alternative to the disrupted rail route. The arrangements may be activated as required to support Rail Replacement Services for pre-planned, emergency and ad hoc issues arising e.g. create spare capacity (disruption events), helping TfWRL maintain customer journeys, support integrated public transport and reduce the need for dedicated rail replacement vehicles where suitable existing bus services are available.

Procurement Information

The suppliers being awarded the contracts are the only operators of the services that could provide an alternative travel method for customers affected by disruption, as these bus routes are either operated by a Mutual aligned to a Local Authority or have been awarded public service route via LA or TfW competition in accordance with public sector procurement rules. Only operators already providing public service bus routes under the current public transport network are able to provide these services. In accordance with Schedule 5 of PA23, the following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- 5 (a) due to a particular operator having the exclusive right to operate the bus routes suitable to temporarily substitute rail services hence only that operator can supply the services required; and 5(b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those service providers. Ticket Acceptance is used where it is not operationally or commercially viable to provide a dedicated rail replacement service and provides a better value for money alternative, enabling passengers to continue their journey using existing public transport services.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0780e3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093883-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60100000 - Road transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£2,173,469 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2026 - 31 Oct 2031 Over 5 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
Transport for Wales Rail Limited (Utility Buyer)
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PONTYPRIDD
Postcode
CF37 4TH
Postcode Area
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL51 Central Valleys and Bridgend
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Electoral Ward
Pontypridd Town
Westminster Constituency
Pontypridd

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

STAGECOACH SERVICES LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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