---
title: "Contract for Northern Franchise rail services. Currently operated by Northern Trains Limited (NTL)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0296f4"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0296f4"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0296f4.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0296f4.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT"
published: "2021-03-01"
---

# Contract for Northern Franchise rail services. Currently operated by Northern Trains Limited (NTL)

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0296f4

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0296f4)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0296f4.json)

## Summary

The Department for Transport is planning a procurement for a new contract titled "Contract for Northern Franchise rail services," which will be open for tenders. This contract, primarily in the railway transport services industry, is anticipated to have a duration ranging from 24 months to five years. It is expected to commence on 1st March 2022, with a direct award method in place. The delivery locations will cover various routes across the North of England, including areas such as Bradford, Sheffield, and Leeds, serving a mix of leisure, business, and commuter travel.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the transport and railway services sector to expand their operations within a competitive market. Companies focusing on regional passenger rail services or those experienced in managing inter-urban and commuter transport operations would be particularly well-suited to compete for this contract. The extended duration of the contract allows for stability and long-term planning, which can be advantageous for businesses aiming to secure and grow their presence in the public transport sector.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Contract for provision of regional passenger rail services on the UK conventional mainline rail system. It is envisaged the services would run between: * Bradford Forster Square - Skipton * Wakefield - Huddersfield/Hebden Bridge - Bradford Interchange - Leeds - Selby * Bradford Forster Square - llkley * Sheffield - Moorthorpe - Leeds * Sheffield - Hull * Knottingley - Wakefield * Bradford FQ - Skipton * Goole - Castleford -Leeds * Blackpool North -Leeds/York * Sheffield - Gainsborough Central/Lincoln * Doncaster - Scunthorpe * Hull- Scarborough * Hull- Bridlington -Scarborough * Wigan - Leeds * Leeds - Bradford Forster Square * Leeds - llkley * Bradford FQ - llkley * Hull- York/Bridlington * Scarborough/Hull-Sheffield via Doncaster * Barton on Humber- Cleethorpes * Carlisle - Settle - Leeds * Skipton - Leeds * Adwick - Sheffield * Doncaster - Leeds * Leeds - Knottingley * Leeds - Knaresborough * York-Leeds/Huddersfield * Sheffield - York * Wakefield - Huddersfield * Halifax - Hull * Leeds - Barnsley - Sheffield (Stoppers) * Blackpool N - York * Leeds - Lancaster * Castleford - Bradford Interchange via Huddersfield * Leeds - Lincoln via Sheffield * Leeds - Sheffield via Moorthorpe * Leeds - Harrogate - York * Leeds - Manchester Victoria * Sheffield - Huddersfield * Leeds - Garforth - York * Leeds - Nottingham * Leeds - Chester * Cleethorpes - Gainsborough * Bishop Auckland - Darlington - Saltburn * Newcastle - Carlisle * Saltburn - Chester le Street - Carlisle * Saltburn - Bishop Auckland * Newcastle - Carlisle * Whitby-Middlesbrough * Durham Coast * Chathill- Newcastle * Wigan Wallgate - Via Bolton - Manchester Vic * Manchester Vic - Stalybridge/Huddersfield * Manchester Ox Road / Manchester Airport - Crewe (Styal) * *Southport-Wigan - Via Atherton - Manchester Vic * Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe via Stockport * Clitheroe - Manchester Victoria via Bolton * Rochdale - Blackburn * Manchester Piccadilly - Crewe via Manchester Airport * Manchester Piccadilly - Chester * Manchester Piccadilly - Buxton * Manchester Piccadilly- New Mills Central * Manchester Piccadilly - Stoke on Trent * Kirby-Manchester Victoria via Atherton * Clitheroe - Blackburn - Manchester Victoria via Todmorden * Southport- Stalybridge * Manchester Victoria - Stalybridge * Manchester Piccadilly- Marple/Rose Hill * Hazel Grove - Blackpool * Manchester Piccadilly - Hadfield/Glossop * Blackburn - Wigan * Manchester Piccadilly - Sheffield * Southport-Alderley Edge via Bolton * Manchester Piccadilly - Hazel Grove * Liverpool - Newton Le Willows/Wigan/Manchester Victoria * Windermere - Oxenholme * Liverpool/Warrington Central- Manchester Oxford Road/Piccadilly * Blackpool N - Preston * Barrow/ Windemere - Preston - Wigan - Bolton - Manchester * Warrington BQ - Liverpool * Liverpool/Hunts Cross - Warrington Central - Manchester Ox Rd * Blackpool N - Liverpool (Stoppers) * Preston - Ormskirk * Carlisle - Whitehaven - Barrow * Liverpool-Manchester Airport via Warrington (express) * Cumbria Coast * Blackpool N - Liverpool (express) * Blackpool South - Colne * Manchester - Preston * Manchester Airport- Windermere/ Barrow (Express) via Wigan * Blackpool N - Manchester Airport (Express) via Bolton * Liverpool - Crewe via Manchester Piccadilly * Barrow/Windermere - Preston * Liverpool-Oxford Road via Warrington Central (Stoppers) * Carlisle - Clitheroe - Blackpool N * Lancaster-Morecambe * Ellesmere Port- Liverpool via Warrington BQ * Blackpool North - Preston - Manchester There is a mixture of leisure, business and commuter travel. These services would be similar to those currently operated by Northern Trains Limited.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003980-2021 |
| Notice type | Planning Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award for railway transport |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 Mar 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DR |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | Vincent Square |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60200000 - Railway transport services
- 60210000 - Public transport services by railways

## Release History

- 1 Mar 2021 at 08:44 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003980-2021

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0296f4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0296f4.json.
