---
title: "357 Fleet Refurbishment and Systems Upgrade"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e716"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e716"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e716.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e716.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "C2C RAILWAY LIMITED"
published: "2026-08-19"
---

# 357 Fleet Refurbishment and Systems Upgrade

Buyer: C2C RAILWAY LIMITED  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e716

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## Summary

C2C Railway Limited, with GA Trains Limited, is considering services to refurbish and upgrade its Class 357 passenger trains across the Essex Thameside network in the United Kingdom. The fleet comprises 74 Class 357 vehicles, built around 2000, with earlier refurbishment and technology upgrades. Potential work covers interior floors, seat coverings, toilets, panels and surfaces; cab condition and power or USB outlets; passenger power; passenger information and media screens; front-facing and interior CCTV; automatic passenger counting; passenger communication reset functionality; automatic selective door operation; and improvements to air-conditioning reliability. The scope also considers replacing the legacy platform-based driver-only operation system with a modern in-cab alternative, including installation and performance risks. This is rolling-stock repair, maintenance and systems-upgrade work.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is above the applicable threshold under the utilities regime; it is not yet an invitation to tender. C2C and GA Trains are conducting preliminary market engagement through a questionnaire, with responses expected by 12pm on 18 September 2026. The buyer is considering an open tender procedure, although the procedure has not yet been launched. The procurement is structured as one planned lot. The anticipated contract period is 18 September 2027 to 17 September 2029, with renewal provisions allowing the arrangement to run at most until 17 September 2036. The buyer is seeking market views on refurbishment and upgrade options, including whether an in-cab driver-only operation system could be more cost-effective than maintaining platform cameras and mirrors approaching obsolescence.

The work is likely to suit rail engineering, rolling-stock refurbishment and train systems specialists able to deliver integrated mechanical, electrical, passenger-information and safety upgrades. Relevant suppliers may include organisations with experience in passenger-train interiors, cab equipment, onboard power, CCTV, passenger counting, air-conditioning, communications, Ethernet or media systems, and automatic or selective door-operation technology. Strong candidates will need to manage installation and performance risk, particularly when replacing the legacy driver-only operation arrangement with an in-cab system. The requirement may suit businesses able to survey an ageing fleet, develop technically compatible options and carry out installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance across multiple train vehicles. Suppliers with a track record of delivering upgrades on operational railway fleets should prepare evidence of comparable capability and experience.

## Notice

c2c operates a fleet of 12 X 720 and 74 X 357 vehicles across the Essex Thameside network. This concerns the 357 fleet. The units have been in service since approximately 2000. Some previous upgrade/refurbishment of the total Fleet took place around 2016/2017 broadly including but not limited to the following areas; Flooring, heater panels, fixtures fittings, seats, cab floor, toilets refreshed. In addition, in 2016 these Units were, as part of a project called 'Intelligent Trains', fitted with Intelligent Gateway (Router), antennas, Ethernet backbone, CCTV, OTDRs, passenger information points, passenger Wi-Fi access points and Ethernet switches passenger information points. c2c is now considering its options in relation to refurbishing and upgrading the units to make them more aligned with future passenger and operator expectations. Areas to be considered in potential scope may include but are not limited to: - Interiors: Floors and covering, seats and coverings, toilets, panels, surfaces etc. - Cabs: general condition and power/USB outlets - At seat power considerations - PIS/Media Screens - FF and interior CCTV - Automatic passenger counting - Remote (Cab) passenger communication reset functionality - ASDO/SDO - Air conditioning systems reliability improvements - In addition, c2c currently operates a platform-based DOO legacy system which dates from 2000, on an East -West route, views are solicited as to whether it would be more cost effective to install an in cab modern alternative as platform cameras and mirrors approach obsolescence. Options should be particularly aware of installation and performance risk.

### Planning Information

c2c and GATL are conducting a pre market engagement activity for 357 Fleet Refurbishment and Systems Upgrade.
The link below provides details as to how the Preliminary market engagement questionnaire should be completed, please download the PowerPoint and follow the instructions:
https://www.c2c-online.co.uk/procurementattachments/
The extended deadline for responses is 12pm (midday) on 18/09/2026.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078796-2026 |
| 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 | 19 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 18 Sep 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 18 Sep 2027 - 17 Sep 2029 |
| 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 | C2C RAILWAY LIMITED |
| Additional buyers | GA TRAINS LIMITED |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | Central London |
| Postcode | EC3R 6DL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | City of London |
| Electoral ward | Billingsgate |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 34600000 - Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts
- 50222000 - Repair and maintenance services of rolling stock

## Release History

- 19 Aug 2026 at 09:42 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078796-2026
- 19 Aug 2026 at 09:29 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078782-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078796-2026
  19th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078782-2026
  19th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.c2c-online.co.uk/procurementattachments/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.socialvalueportal.com/

## 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-06e716. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e716.json.