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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 15:06

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport for Wales Rail Limited has arranged for rail passengers affected by planned or unexpected disruption to use valid rail tickets or eligible concessionary rail passes on designated scheduled local bus services. The bus journeys must provide a suitable alternative to the disrupted rail route. The arrangements can support planned disruption, emergencies and other unplanned events, including where existing bus services can provide capacity without dedicated rail replacement vehicles. The purpose is to help passengers continue their journeys and support integrated public transport. Cardiff City Transport Services Limited, trading as Cardiff Bus, is the selected operator for this service. The requirement concerns road transport services delivered through bus routes in Wales and potentially across the border; additional routes may be added during the agreement.

The procurement is complete and Cardiff Bus was selected through a direct award. Transport for Wales justified this route on the basis that the relevant bus operators have exclusive rights to operate suitable routes and that reasonable alternatives are unavailable. The award covers one lot and is valued at £794,132.96 excluding VAT (£952,959.55 including VAT). The contract period runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2031, with an option to extend to 31 October 2032 to align with the Transport for Wales Bus Franchising Programme. A proposed signature date was 28 October 2026. The buyer may vary service volumes and add routes or coverage, including cross-border services, subject to the contract terms.

For suppliers considering future requirements of this kind, the key competitive position is control of scheduled local bus routes that can provide a practical alternative when rail services are disrupted. The buyer’s rationale indicates that only operators already running relevant public bus services can meet the need, particularly where routes are operated under local-authority or Transport for Wales arrangements. A credible operator would need to support acceptance of rail tickets and eligible concessionary passes on those services, and be able to accommodate changing passenger demand, timetables and operational requirements. The arrangement also points to potential requirements for additional routes, ticket validation, reporting and digital integration, as well as coordination across train-operator interfaces and local-authority areas. This is a transport-operations opportunity tied to existing route coverage, not a standalone replacement-bus fleet contract.

How relevant is this notice?

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-0780f3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093914-2026
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
£794,132 £500K-£1M
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

Cardiff City Transport Services Limited T/A Cardiff Bus

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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