---
title: "Ticket Retailing & Validation Solutions"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-059648"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-059648"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059648.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059648.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED"
published: "2026-03-05"
---

# Ticket Retailing & Validation Solutions

Buyer: NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-059648

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## Summary

Northern Trains Limited, based in York, is undertaking a procurement process titled "Ticket Retailing & Validation Solutions" within the industry category of ticket-validation machines and ticket-issuing machines. The procurement seeks to replace existing solutions that are vital for maintaining the continuity of rail services following the withdrawal of the incumbent supplier. The process uses an open procurement method and is in the award stage as of March 2026, with Worldline IT Services UK Limited set to deliver the contract valued at £29,167,795. The key dates reflected in the current contracting process include the start of the standstill period on 5th March 2026 and the contract commencement on 1st April 2026, spanning a minimum term of six years with possible extensions. The procurement involves service provision that aligns with utilities special regimes and ensures compliance with RDG accreditation and industry standards.

This tender presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in technology solutions for the rail industry, notably those experienced in ticket retailing and validation systems. It seeks innovative solutions capable of supporting Northern Trains' requirements for on-train and ticket office operations, including smartcard capabilities and EMV integration as part of the PAYG programme. As Northern Trains aims to safeguard its operations, particularly in train depots across Greater Manchester, enterprises well-versed in cloud-based or supplier-hosted technology models are well-suited to compete. Additionally, companies that can meet comprehensive payment acceptance requirements, including PCI DSS compliance, and offer robust financial integrity solutions will find potential for expansion and collaboration under this contract. This project stands to benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large technology providers, offering them a platform to solidify their presence in the UK rail market.

## Notice

Northern Trains Limited has a requirement to replace its existing Ticket Retailing & Validation solution by December 2026 due to the incumbent supplier's withdrawal from the UK rail ticketing market. Northern are therefore looking to engage the supply market to understand the solutions available. Northern Trains Limited Invitation to Tender is for the provision of a technology solution that satisfies two main outcomes for Northern: *Suitable replacement of the on-train and ticket office solution to maintain and safeguard ticket retailing and validation provision *Deliver on NTL's dependency into the PAYG programme for EMV A successfully delivered solution must meet 11 significant requirements: 1)Complete Ticket Issuing System (TIS) for All Devices 2)Architecture Description of All Components 3)Full Range of Retailing Options Available Day One 4)RDG Accreditation and Compliance 5)Adherence to Project Delivery Timelines 6)Customer Payment Type Acceptance 7)Support for ITSO PAYG Smartcards 8)TfGM cEMV PAYG Capability 9)Customer Travel Options and Fare Types 10)End-of-Shift Accounting Functionality 11)Ticket Inspection and Validation Functionality

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The minimum term is six (6) years, with the option to extend for a further five (5) years, split into a three (3) year option followed by a two (2) year option, up to a total maximum duration of eleven (11) years.

### Planning Information

Northern would like to invite any suppliers who substantially meet the system detailed to register their interest to attend a briefing call hosted by the Project Team & Procurement Manager to explain the requirements in more detail. 
The briefing call will be hosted on Teams on 19/09/2025 11.30am - 12.30pm for all suppliers to attend. The session will consist of the project team giving an overview of Northern's technical requirements in further detail followed by a Q&A sessions for interested Suppliers to field any initial questions or clarifications. 
If you are interested in partaking in this briefing call please send an expression of interest to Alex Ashman (alexander.ashman@northernrailway.co.uk) along with a summary of the system capabilities (i.e Product fact sheet).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020129-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 5 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 12 Jan 2026 |
| Future notice date | 19 Sep 2025 |
| Award date | 5 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2032 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £30,000,000 |
| Lots value | £30,000,000 |
| Awards value | £29,167,795 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED |
| Locality | YORK |
| Post town | York |
| Postcode | YO1 6JT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE2 North Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE21 York |
| Local authority | York |
| Electoral ward | Micklegate |
| Westminster constituency | York Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | WORLDLINE IT SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 30123100 - Ticket-validation machines
- 30144200 - Ticket-issuing machines
- 50316000 - Maintenance and repair of ticket-issuing machinery
- 50317000 - Maintenance and repair of ticket-validation machinery

## Release History

- 5 Mar 2026 at 16:54 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020129-2026
- 28 Nov 2025 at 16:05 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078223-2025
- 9 Sep 2025 at 08:24 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054859-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020129-2026
  5th March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078223-2025
  28th November 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/054859-2025
  9th September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.theticketkeeper.com
- http://www.vixtechnology.com
- https://worldline.com/en-gb/home
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/AccessCode:KF72D9CNNW
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/

## 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-059648. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-059648.json.