---
title: "WAN Circuits"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0686d5"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0686d5"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0686d5.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0686d5.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "XC TRAINS LIMITED"
published: "2026-04-21"
---

# WAN Circuits

Buyer: XC TRAINS LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0686d5

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0686d5)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0686d5.json)

## Summary

The public procurement process overseen by XC Trains Limited involves the provision and continuation of UK Wide Area Network (WAN) services, crucial for operations across various locations including data centres, offices, operational depots, and remote sites throughout the United Kingdom. The tender is currently at the award stage, as of 21st April 2026, with the contract slated to begin on 3rd May 2026 and conclude on 2nd May 2028. This procurement falls under the private utility industry category, with significant services including managed MPLS connectivity, Ethernet, VPN services, and more. The procurement is structured as a direct award to ensure operational continuity, preventing disruption to live rail services, and includes a temporary extension of existing services provided by BT Group PLC.

This tender presents a strategic opportunity for businesses involved in network services, telecommunications, and infrastructure support, particularly those specialising in comprehensive WAN solutions and related technologies. BT Group PLC, having been awarded the contract, exemplifies the type of large-scale suppliers suitable for meeting technical requirements embedded within complex operational environments. Businesses equipped with the capability to manage large-scale network connectivity, resilient access circuits, and site integration will find potential growth through engagements such as this, particularly when future competitive procurement processes unfold as anticipated under the Procurement Act 2023.

## Notice

Provision and continuation of UK Wide Area Network (WAN) services for XC Trains Ltd. The services comprise BT Ethernet Connect UK, Virtual Private Network (VPN) services, Multi Service Business Access (MSBA), and IP Connect Global, delivering WAN connectivity between data centres, offices, operational depots and remote sites across the UK. The services include managed MPLS connectivity, resilient access circuits, point-to-point leased lines and Short Haul Data Services (SHDS), together with associated network equipment and support. The existing network architecture, resilience model and site connectivity will be retained, with agreed incremental upgrades where required to meet current operational needs. The direct award ensures continuity of critical network services, avoids disruption to live rail operations, and maintains compatibility with the existing network architecture.

### Procurement Information

This direct award relates to the continuation and temporary extension of existing WAN services delivered by the incumbent supplier, BT. The services are embedded within XC Trains' live operational environment and are technically integrated across multiple sites and systems. For technical reasons, a change of supplier at this point would require significant network re engineering and transition activity, creating unacceptable risks to service continuity. The direct award is therefore necessary to ensure continuity of critical services and is limited to a temporary extension and partial replacement of existing services only. This temporary arrangement enables XC Trains to maintain operational stability while allowing sufficient time to plan and undertake a future competitive procurement in line with the Procurement Act 2023.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035854-2026 |
| 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 | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 21 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | 2 May 2026 - 2 May 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £412,295 |
| 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 | XC TRAINS LIMITED |
| Locality | BUSINESS PARK |
| 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BT GROUP |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72720000 - Wide area network services

## Release History

- 21 Apr 2026 at 06:36 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035854-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035854-2026
  21st April 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.bt.com
- 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-0686d5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0686d5.json.