---
title: "Railhead Cleaning Technology Trial"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06da77"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06da77"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06da77.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06da77.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED"
published: "2026-08-03"
---

# Railhead Cleaning Technology Trial

Buyer: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06da77

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## Summary

Network Rail Infrastructure Limited has awarded a contract for the Railhead Cleaning Technology Trial to Laser Tribology B.V. The procurement process, managed under the direct award method due to the highly specialised nature of the laser-based railhead treatment, culminated in an award on 3rd August 2026. The project's primary aim is to provide a cleaner, water-free railhead cleaning solution using laser technology, assisting Network Rail’s Seasonal team. The contract, falling within the railway maintenance and service vehicles industry category, will be executed across the UK, with operations commencing on 19th October 2026 and concluding on 20th October 2028. The procurement, classified under utilities, involves delivering services related to railway equipment and experimental development, highlighting its importance to central government infrastructure.

This procurement opportunity is ideal for businesses specialising in advanced laser technologies and railway equipment that are aiming to expand their reach into the public sector and infrastructure projects. The selection of Laser Tribology B.V., acknowledged for its expertise and operational readiness in laser-based solutions, underscores the competitive advantage enjoyed by enterprises that can deliver mature and proven technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with innovative solutions that can provide technological readiness similar to Laser Tribology could find new avenues for business growth, given the continuing demand for specialised services within public infrastructure developments.

## Notice

The supplier will deliver a trial of a laser solution, to support the Seasonal team with their future proofing of the fleet, focusing on eliminating the need of using water to clean the railhead, by using laser technology. The trial will consist of 2 phases. 1 being off track and the other on a live rail environments within the UK at the desired speed of 60mph.

### Procurement Information

The requirement for laser-based railhead treatment is highly specialised and LPS are the only provider than has this laser treatment in full use across international rail industries and can deliver the laser treatment at the required speed that NR requires. Furthermore, the maturity of LPS's technology and its prior deployment history differentiate it from emerging or unproven alternatives. Existing materials show that LPS has progressed from pilot phases to live network trials and longer-term operational contracts, demonstrating a level of technical readiness and operational assurance not currently matched by other suppliers.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073410-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 3 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 18 Oct 2026 - 20 Oct 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £700,000 |
| 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 | LASER TRIBOLOGY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 34621000 - Railway maintenance or service vehicles, and railway freight wagons
- 34940000 - Railway equipment
- 73100000 - Research and experimental development services

## Release History

- 3 Aug 2026 at 18:08 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073410-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073410-2026
  3rd August 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- 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-06da77. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06da77.json.