---
title: "ETCS System Safety Assurance"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06077c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06077c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06077c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06077c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED"
published: "2026-01-16"
---

# ETCS System Safety Assurance

Buyer: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06077c

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## Summary

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, a central government public authority, has completed the award stage of the procurement process for the "ETCS System Safety Assurance" project. This procurement focuses on services within the industry category of railway signalling and system quality assurance assessment. The project, operating within the region of the United Kingdom, specifically covers locations between Heathrow and Ealing Broadway for modifications to the existing European Train Control System (ETCS). The procurement method employed is a direct award due to the specific requirements and continuation of existing work, with significant regulatory and system knowledge at play. A relevant milestone has been scheduled for contract signature by 29th January 2026, with the contract execution period extending from 2nd February 2026 to 31st December 2026.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for firms already well-versed in complex rail systems, particularly those familiar with the ETCS infrastructure. Businesses specialising in electrical signalling equipment, railway signalling works, and system quality assurance will find this contract particularly suited to their expertise. Synergy Rail, the appointed supplier, highlights a competitive edge through its established regulatory credibility and unique technical familiarity, which underpinned the direct award. Firms with similar competencies and an understanding of maintaining system safety integrity and regulatory compliance would be well-positioned to engage in future tenders of this nature.

## Notice

The Safety Assurance supplier will be responsible to support obtaining necessary approvals to support delivery of works. The safety assurance supplier will adhere to principles and standards in place according to the following: Application of the Common Safety method for Risk Evaluation and Assessment (NR Standard NR/L2/RSE/100/02). Commission Regulation (EU) 402/2013. The Future works scope is a modification to the in-service ETCS system operating between Heathrow (Stage A) and Ealing Broadway (Stage TB2), with the safety assurance expected to build upon the existing works and documentation produced for these stages.

### Procurement Information

The Western ETCS L2 project, commissioned in November 2023, represents the UK's first mainline deployment of ETCS Level 2. Synergy Rail was competitively appointed through all prior phases of the project since 2015 via the W&W Safety Assurance Framework (CP6), delivering end-to-end system assurance from GRIP 3 feasibility through to system commissioning and early post-commissioning support. Key services provided included: Development of the safety and acceptance strategy Interoperability verification and regulatory support Management of product acceptance processes. Oversight of all V&V activities and testing phases Completion of safety justifications for operational non-compliances Synergy Rail's contributions were highly commended by both FCCS SRP and ORR, with ORR explicitly recommending their methodology be used as a template for future ETCS deployments. Justification With the project now in a "post-commissioning enhancement and non-compliance resolution phase", continuity of system knowledge, safety case integrity and structure, and regulatory confidence are critical to the successful engagement with 4SP/FCCS-SRP and W&W -SRP and deployment. Synergy Rail is uniquely qualified for the following reasons: Unmatched technical familiarity with the deployed system, including contractors architecture, assurance processes, structure of the System Safety Case , Interoperability arguments, the Technical File and bespoke safety justifications used in deployment of the current ETCS L2 Solution. End-to-end project involvement, eliminating the onboarding risks and delays of a new provider Demonstrated regulatory credibility, having delivered a model process acknowledged by the ORR and FSSC-SRP have engendered trust and confidence in submissions streamlining both time to resolution and reduced the "Pull" on critical limited Regulator and Panel member involvement. Established relationships with Network Rail Engineering, Assurance Panel members and project teams Appointing an alternative provider would likely increase final cost, delay critical updates, and undermine continuity of safety oversight and drive increased Panel engagement in submissions and assessment time. Therefore, a Direct Award is the most practical, economical, and low-risk procurement approach for the Industry as a whole.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003816-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 16 Jan 2026 |
| Contract period | 2 Feb 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £420,614 |
| 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 | NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 8SW |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI45 Lambeth |
| Local authority | Lambeth |
| Electoral ward | Waterloo & South Bank |
| Westminster constituency | Vauxhall and Camberwell Green |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SYNERGY RAIL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 45 - Construction work
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 34632200 - Electrical signalling equipment for railways
- 45234115 - Railway signalling works
- 72225000 - System quality assurance assessment and review services

## Release History

- 16 Jan 2026 at 11:33 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003816-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003816-2026
  16th January 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://synergyrail.co.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.networkrail.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-06077c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06077c.json.