---
title: "Chiltern Railways - Compass System Replacement"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06cfbc"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06cfbc"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06cfbc.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06cfbc.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED"
published: "2026-07-23"
---

# Chiltern Railways - Compass System Replacement

Buyer: THE CHILTERN RAILWAY COMPANY LIMITED  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06cfbc

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## Summary

The Chiltern Railway Company Limited, a private utility, is undertaking a procurement process to replace its existing Compass system, due to become unsupported in December 2027. This procurement falls under the software package and information systems category, inclusive of IT and support services. Engagement began on 21 July 2026, with key deadlines such as clarification questions due by 4 August 2026, and final responses due by 17 August 2026, all through Market Dojo. The process aims to prepare for a seamless system replacement by March 2027 across their Sunderland location, following a strategic planning stage guided by preliminary market engagement notices.

This procurement represents an opportunity for businesses specialising in software solutions, system integration, and IT services to engage with a significant player in the UK’s rail sector. Companies with expertise in Software as a Service (SaaS), data migration, and interfacing with external systems such as Network Rail's TRUST system will find this tender especially pertinent. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are also encouraged to participate, as the procurement process is designed to support modular or specialist solutions, offering potential for growth through innovation and tailored service delivery.

## Notice

Chiltern Railways is undertaking preliminary market engagement in relation to the potential procurement of one or more software solutions to replace its existing Compass system, which is due to become unsupported from December 2027. The anticipated requirement comprises three principal areas: Operational event and incident logging; Delay monitoring, analysis and reporting, including the receipt and processing of train performance data from Network Rail's TRUST system; and Performance action logging and tracking. Chiltern is seeking to understand whether these requirements are best delivered through a single end-to-end solution, separate modules or specialist systems integrated with one another. The outcome of this market engagement will help determine whether any future procurement is undertaken as a single contract, separate lots or separate procurement exercises. The anticipated scope of supply may include: Software licensing or subscription services; System hosting; Implementation, configuration and any required development; Migration of current and historical data from Compass; Integration with Chiltern and external systems, including TRUST; Testing and user acceptance support; Training and change-management support; Ongoing technical support, maintenance and system updates; and Backup, business continuity and disaster-recovery arrangements. The current system has approximately 329 named users. All 329 users have access to the Events module, approximately 289 have access to the Delays module and approximately 311 have access to the Action Tracking module. Of the 329 named users, 208 have logged into the system during 2026. A significant proportion of users require read-only access. Chiltern anticipates that the replacement solution will primarily be delivered as a hosted or software-as-a-service solution, although suppliers are invited to propose alternative delivery models where appropriate. The estimated contract value, contract duration and final procurement structure have not yet been determined. Suppliers are therefore being asked to provide information on available commercial models, indicative pricing, implementation timescales and the main factors affecting cost. Any future solution would need to be implemented, tested and operational before the existing Compass system becomes unsupported in December 2027. This is preliminary market engagement only and does not constitute an invitation to tender or a commitment by Chiltern Railways to commence a future procurement. The purpose is to help Chiltern understand market capability and develop its requirements, commercial approach and procurement strategy, which is consistent with the intended function of preliminary market engagement under the Procurement Act 2023.

### Planning Information

This preliminary market engagement will be conducted electronically through Market Dojo. No physical supplier events are currently planned.
The engagement will commence on Tuesday 21 July 2026. Suppliers will be provided with access to the Request for Information questionnaire, the draft requirements spreadsheet and the relevant background information through Market Dojo.
Suppliers wishing to participate should email Frank.molloy@chilternrailways.co.uk and request an invitation to the Compass Replacement Market Dojo event. The email should include the supplier's organisation name and the name and contact details of the person who should be invited.
Once access has been provided, all communications relating to the engagement must take place through Market Dojo. This includes the submission of clarification questions, Chiltern Railways' responses to those questions and the submission of completed RFI responses.
Clarification questions must be submitted through Market Dojo by 14:00 on Tuesday 4 August 2026. Chiltern Railways intends to issue consolidated responses to clarification questions through Market Dojo by Friday 7 August 2026.
Completed responses must be submitted through Market Dojo by 14:00 on Monday 17 August 2026.
Following review of the responses, Chiltern Railways may invite suppliers to participate in further market engagement discussions or solution demonstrations. Any further sessions will be arranged separately and will remain part of the preliminary market engagement process.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069718-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Jul 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 17 Aug 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Mar 2027 - 1 Mar 2032 |
| 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

- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 72222300 - Information technology services
- 72250000 - System and support services
- 72263000 - Software implementation services

## Release History

- 23 Jul 2026 at 12:09 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069718-2026
- 21 Jul 2026 at 10:55 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068649-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069718-2026
  23rd July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068649-2026
  21st July 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-06cfbc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06cfbc.json.