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EMR Lease of x2 Class 221 Units

TRANSPORT UK EAST MIDLANDS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

14 Oct 2026 at 17:40

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

14 Oct 2026 at 17:23

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport UK East Midlands Limited (EMR) procured the short-term hire of two Class 221 passenger trains for East Midlands Railway passenger services. The requirement covers the trains themselves, maintenance, technical support and daily certification that each train is fit to run. This is a rolling-stock and associated railway support requirement, rather than a purchase of passenger services. The trains are intended for use on East Midlands Railway services in the United Kingdom. The procurement is for a single requirement, covering both units together.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to Grand Central Railway Company Limited. The award date was 14 October 2026. The awarded value is £5,679,704.52 excluding VAT (£6,815,645.42 including VAT). The contract period runs from 26 October 2026 to 28 February 2027, with an option to extend up to 7 April 2027 to maintain continuity of services. EMR used a direct award, citing technical reasons that it considered left no reasonable alternative supplier, and extreme, unavoidable urgency that prevented a competitive tender within the required timescale. The procurement was not divided into separate lots. The award was made under the utilities regime.

For suppliers tracking future demand from EMR, this award demonstrates a requirement for access to Class 221 passenger rolling stock together with the ability to maintain it, provide technical support and certify fitness to run each day. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate that it can supply compatible units and deliver the operational support needed to keep them in passenger service. The buyer’s stated case for this award was that technical constraints left no reasonable alternative provider, alongside urgent continuity needs; suppliers positioning for comparable work would therefore need to show that their equipment and support can meet the specific fleet requirement and be mobilised within demanding timescales. The combined supply and support scope indicates a substantial rail-operating requirement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

EMR Lease of x2 Class 221 Units

Notice Description

Transport UK East Midlands Limited (EMR) intends to enter into a short-term operating hire of two Class 221 passenger rolling-stock units, including maintenance, technical support and daily fitness-to-run certification, for use on East Midlands Railway passenger services from 26 October 2026 to 28 February 2027.

Procurement Information

Schedule 5, paragraph 6: absence of competition for technical reasons. The contract is being directly awarded on the basis that, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only the selected supplier is able to provide the required Class 221 services and there are no reasonable alternatives capable of meeting the requirement. Schedule 5, paragraphs 13 and 14: extreme and unavoidable urgency. The required services are strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency and the timescales do not permit the contract to be awarded through a competitive tendering procedure. The circumstances giving rise to the urgency were not attributable to an act or omission of the contracting authority and could not reasonably have been foreseen.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078803
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097232-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

CPV Codes

34600000 - Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£5,679,704 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
26 Oct 2026 - 28 Feb 2027 1-6 months
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
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
Not specified
Local Authority
City of London
Electoral Ward
Castle Baynard
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

GRAND CENTRAL RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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