Tender

ScotRail suburban fleet (EMU and BEMU) financier procurement

SCOTRAIL TRAINS LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

27 Feb 2026 at 00:00

Summary of the contracting process

ScotRail Trains Limited is currently in the tender stage of a procurement process titled "ScotRail suburban fleet (EMU and BEMU) financier procurement." The aim is to secure a financier/owner for a new fleet of suburban trains, including Electric Multiple Units (EMU) and Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMU), with a minimum of 69 trains and potential for additional orders. This procurement, which falls under the railway services industry category, adopts a selective procurement method using a negotiated procedure with prior calls for competition. The process began with the publication of a contract notice and calls for electronic submissions by 10th April 2026. Based in Glasgow, the procurement is managed by ScotRail under the terms of its Grant Agreement with the Scottish Ministers and Scottish Rail Holdings Limited. The contract is set to start on 28th April 2028 and potentially extend until 27th April 2058, with a possible extension of up to five additional years.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the railway industry, particularly financial institutions and companies involved in train leasing and manufacturing. Firms with strengths in financing and owning rolling stock would greatly benefit from participating, as they can secure long-term contracts and establish strategic partnerships with ScotRail, a prominent player in the UK's transportation sector. The anticipated scope and scale of the contract open avenues for economic operators well-versed in negotiating complex financial agreements, possessing robust capital structures, and having the capacity to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects. Businesses that can navigate PQQ processes and successfully meet the selection criteria will be well-placed to thrive through this procurement endeavour.

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Notice Title

ScotRail suburban fleet (EMU and BEMU) financier procurement

Notice Description

This Contract Notice formally commences the procurement process for the financing of a new fleet of trains (the "Suburban Fleet"), comprising Electric Multiple Units ("EMU") and Battery Electric Multiple Units ("BEMU"). ScotRail Trains Limited ("ScotRail") intends to procure a financier / owner who will fund and retain ownership of the Suburban Fleet and subsequently lease it to ScotRail for operational use for a duration of up to 30 years via a rolling stock lease ("Lease"). The Suburban Fleet will be supplied under a Manufacture and Supply Agreement ("MSA"), which is the subject of a separate procurement process (the "Suburban Manufacturer procurement"), with Find a Tender reference 2025/S 000-071234. The financier / owner will be a party to the MSA. The Suburban Fleet will comprise a minimum of 69 trains, with an option for additional orders of up to 37 trains. ScotRail will select economic operators to be invited to negotiate in this procurement process in accordance with the selection criteria detailed in the Pre-Qualification Pack which includes the pre-qualification questionnaire and procurement overview and instructions document (together the "PQQ"). The Lease will be awarded according to the criteria specified in the forthcoming Invitation to Negotiate (the "ITN").

Lot Information

Lot 1

The scope of services to be provided by the successful economic operator is anticipated to include the financing of the Suburban Fleet (manufactured via the MSA), with the successful Bidder taking ownership of the Suburban Fleet, and subsequently leasing it to ScotRail for a term of up to 30 years, via the Lease (such term being extendable - see II2.7). It is anticipated that Transport Scotland will provide a Section 54 undertaking in respect of the Lease arrangements, covering the 30-year period. ScotRail is conducting the Suburban Manufacturer Procurement in parallel with this procurement process to secure a manufacturer to design, manufacture, test, certify, commission, sell, and deliver the new Suburban Fleet, as well as provide relevant inputs relating to infrastructure and depot/stabling works to accommodate the Suburban Fleet. The owner / financier will be a party to the MSA alongside ScotRail and the successful manufacturer appointed under the Suburban Manufacturer Procurement. Please refer to the PQQ for a summary of the interface between this procurement process and the Manufacturer Procurement. Economic operators will have their capability and financial standing evaluated at the PQQ stage, and those Economic operators that are successful will be invited to the ITN stage, as outlined in the procurement documents. This procurement is being run by ScotRail under the terms of its Grant Agreement with the Scottish Ministers and Scottish Rail Holdings Limited ("SRH"). It is anticipated that the contract subject to this procurement process will be awarded and entered into by ScotRail. The aim of this procurement is to deliver Transport Scotland's requirements as set out in Schedule 6 of the Grant Agreement. Following receipt and evaluation of tenders, ScotRail will prepare a Final Business Case ("FBC") in line with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance for SRH and Transport Scotland consideration. Progress to contract award is dependent on the approval by Transport Scotland of a compliant and affordable FBC. Interested parties must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and will be granted access to the Pre-Qualification Event in Waxdigital once the signed NDA has been returned. Waxdigital Link: https://scotrail.wax-live.com/S2C/DisplayModules/TradeModules/Negotiations/Opportunities/ListEvents.aspx

Options: It is anticipated that the appointed financier/owner will finance and purchase (under the MSA) 69 trains (comprising of a mixture of EMUs and BEMUs), simulators, owner owned spares and special tools (collectively known as Leased Equipment) and lease this Leased Equipment to ScotRail under the Lease. There may also be a requirement for option orders of up to 37 trains which could also comprise of a mixture of EMUs and BEMUs (as outlined in the procurement documents) along with option vehicles, spares, special tools and/or simulators, all becoming Leased Equipment. It is anticipated that, if required to do so by ScotRail under the terms of the option, the appointed financier / owner will finance and purchase this option equipment (under the MSA) and lease it to ScotRail under the Lease.

Renewal: It is anticipated that the Lease term will be up to 30 years in length with an option to extend for a further 5 years.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000818847
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB550557
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F5 - Contract Notice (Utilities)
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated procedure with prior call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

66 - Financial and insurance services


CPV Codes

34620000 - Rolling stock

66114000 - Financial leasing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Feb 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
10 Apr 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
28 Apr 2028 - 27 Apr 2058 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTRAIL TRAINS 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
GLASGOW
Postcode
G2 6HQ
Post Town
Glasgow
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM32 Glasgow City
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Anderston/City/Yorkhill
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=FEB550557
    ScotRail suburban fleet (EMU and BEMU) financier procurement - This Contract Notice formally commences the procurement process for the financing of a new fleet of trains (the "Suburban Fleet"), comprising Electric Multiple Units ("EMU") and Battery Electric Multiple Units ("BEMU"). ScotRail Trains Limited ("ScotRail") intends to procure a financier / owner who will fund and retain ownership of the Suburban Fleet and subsequently lease it to ScotRail for operational use for a duration of up to 30 years via a rolling stock lease ("Lease"). The Suburban Fleet will be supplied under a Manufacture and Supply Agreement ("MSA"), which is the subject of a separate procurement process (the "Suburban Manufacturer procurement"), with Find a Tender reference 2025/S 000-071234. The financier / owner will be a party to the MSA. The Suburban Fleet will comprise a minimum of 69 trains, with an option for additional orders of up to 37 trains. ScotRail will select economic operators to be invited to negotiate in this procurement process in accordance with the selection criteria detailed in the Pre-Qualification Pack which includes the pre-qualification questionnaire and procurement overview and instructions document (together the "PQQ"). The Lease will be awarded according to the criteria specified in the forthcoming Invitation to Negotiate (the "ITN").

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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