--- title: "Depot & Facilities Requirement For The Long Term Maintenance Of Class 68 Locomotives & Mk5A Coaches" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-064e17" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-064e17" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064e17.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064e17.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED" published: "2026-03-18" --- # Depot & Facilities Requirement For The Long Term Maintenance Of Class 68 Locomotives & Mk5A Coaches Buyer: THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-064e17 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-064e17) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064e17.json) ## Summary The Chiltern Railway Company Limited is engaging with the market to seek insights into the long-term maintenance strategy for its fleet of Class 68 Locomotives and Mk5A Coaches planned for deployment on the London Marylebone to Birmingham route. This preliminary market engagement, under the services category, aims to ascertain market readiness and determine viable contracting models to support a 10-year maintenance contract commencing 31st October 2026, with operations beginning from 1st December 2026. Interested suppliers must register by 16.00hrs on 18th February 2026, to participate in the engagement process, which aims to gather information without leading directly to tendering or awarding decisions. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in rail facilities and maintenance services. Suppliers with capabilities in depot management, vehicle lifting, wheel lathe operations, cleaning, and facilities for crane access may find this an ideal chance to enter the rail maintenance sector, which can foster further business growth. Chiltern Railways is open to responses from suppliers across various sectors that can provide robust solutions and demonstrate commitment to industry best practices. The open engagement promises a detailed exploration of market options, allowing companies to showcase innovative solutions that meet or exceed operational expectations and ensure continual service efficiency. ## Notice The Chiltern Railways Company is in process of cascading its fleet of 13*5 car sets of Mk5a Coaches and 14*c68 Locomotive units on its London Marylebone to Birmingham route during 2026, with the full complement of rolling stock to be in service by 1st December 2026. The units are leased from Beacon Rail Leasing and are currently being maintained under an interim maintenance agreement between Chiltern Railways and Beacon Rail Leasing until 1st December 2026. Under the existing maintenance structure, the Mk5a Coaches are being maintained by the OEM alongside a TSSSA, the maintenance of the c68 Locomotives is being undertaken by a non-OEM 3rd party who also operate the c68 TSSSA. The maintenance works are being undertaken at the Eastleigh Train Maintenance Depot, with vehicle movements to and from the depot being provided by a 3rd party supplier. As part of the long-term maintenance contract renewal post 1st December 2026, Chiltern Railways is seeking to understand market readiness and the available contracting options, which may inform its long-term procurement strategy and most optimal route to market, which may be informed by this preliminary market engagement process. ### Planning Information Aims of The Engagement Process Ascertain market readiness and available options for Chiltern Railways to deliver its long-term maintenance strategy. Ascertain that any resultant long-term strategy is robust and exceeds Chiltern Railways obligations as a good and efficient operator. Determine the most optimal contracting model which provides resilience and value for money. Identify risks, opportunities & interdependencies. Implement Best practice and industry learning which may be adopted. In responding to this engagement, suppliers should provide their responses to the questions posed, detailing their approach, caveats, risks and opportunities they foresee in delivering the service. Chiltern Railways shall review the responses and where appropriate engage in further supplier interaction, which may take the form of site visits, face to face meetings or supplier events. Conditions of Engagement & Supplier Acknowledgment Suppliers participating in this process agree that this is an information gathering exercise only, and should not be interpreted as a procurement event, there shall be no evaluation or award resulting from this process by The Chiltern Railway Company. The responses obtained from this engagement may inform the most viable contracting models and expedient route to market for any subsequent procurement which may be undertaken. Chiltern Railways may share elements of its findings with the market, suppliers should clearly state any areas of confidentiality in their response/s to the questionnaire stating "not to be shared as part of any debriefing process". Chiltern Railways shall have no liability for any costs arising from this engagement which the supplier may incur as part of this process, Chiltern Railways acknowledges that suppliers may require clarification prior to their submission and whilst the object of this engagement is not to enter into detailed exchange of information, Chiltern Railways will aim to provide clarity where appropriate to participants where it deems appropriate. Commercial Sensitivity The supplier should advise any areas of response which they deem to be confidential, clearly stating these may not be divulged in the event of any debrief process. Chiltern Railways Requirements Chiltern Railways wishes to understand the availability and readiness of Depot facilities which need to be available for the maintenance across the set's units the 1st of December 2026 through the 1st of December 2036. The Depot will need to accommodate the following at the commencement of the contract. • Pitted capability to accommodate a 6-car unit. • Vehicle or full train lifting capabilities. • Wheel lathe capabilities. • Cleaning road with graffiti and fatality cleaning facilities. • Bogie drop facilities. • Crane and high-level gantry access. It the expected that the contract duration shall be for a period of 10 years, with a contract commencement date of the 31st October 2026 and planned mobilisation by the 1st December 2026. Participation If you wish to participate in this engagement process, your formal acceptance is required by 16.00hrs Wednesday 18th February 2026, by registering at the Chiltern Procurement Dojo Platform and via the acceptance and return of our NDA without modification. Access to the Market Dojo is located at the link below where suppliers can access the event https://marketdojo.com/market-dojo-sign-up/ Event code 82D5136076 Engagement Responses Deadline 16.00hrs Friday 13th March 2026 General Information Suppliers must register on Market Dojo Platform and it's their responsibility to ensure participants are kept informed of the status of this activity. Chiltern Railways may use multiple procurement procedures in accordance with PA2023. Chiltern Railways welcome responses from suppliers across sectors who can demonstrate capability in the areas above. Suppliers are not obliged to take part in this activity and may still participate in any forthcoming ITT in accordance with the rules of participation under PA2023. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024392-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 18 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 13 Mar 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Oct 2026 - 30 Oct 2036 | | 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 | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED | | Locality | SUNDERLAND | | Post town | Sunderland | | Postcode | SR3 3XP | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear | | ITL 3 | TLC44 Sunderland | | Local authority | Sunderland | | Electoral ward | Doxford | | Westminster constituency | Houghton and Sunderland South | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation - 50 - Repair and maintenance services - 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport) ### Codes - 34610000 - Rail locomotives and tenders - 34620000 - Rolling stock - 34630000 - Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling stock; railways traffic-control equipment - 50200000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft, railways, roads and marine equipment - 60210000 - Public transport services by railways ## Release History - 18 Mar 2026 at 09:46 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024392-2026 - 11 Feb 2026 at 14:55 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012495-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024392-2026 18th March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012495-2026 11th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://marketdojo.com/market-dojo-sign-up/ - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-064e17. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-064e17.json.