--- title: "Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) Trackside Civils Request for Information" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e7cc" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e7cc" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e7cc.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e7cc.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED" published: "2026-08-19" --- # Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) Trackside Civils Request for Information Buyer: NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e7cc [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e7cc) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e7cc.json) ## Summary Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is planning works to support the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS), the proposed replacement for the GSM-R railway communications system with a 5G-enabled platform. This part of the programme concerns trackside civil infrastructure across the United Kingdom, including potentially 4,000 to 5,000 masts, some of which could be reused from the existing GSM-R network, together with associated infrastructure. The wider FRMCS programme also includes fitting radios and related equipment to trains and establishing the active network, but this process focuses on trackside civils. The likely work covers construction of communications and power-line infrastructure, telecommunications facilities, optical-fibre cabling, towers and radio or lattice masts. Network Rail Infrastructure Limited is the buyer and the work is classified as utilities-related construction. This process is at the planning stage and is a Request for Information, not an invitation to tender. Network Rail expects to use supply-chain responses to inform a possible future procurement; responses will be used for information only and will not form part of a current or future bid. The buyer’s planned market-engagement response deadline is 23:59 on 30 September 2026. The proposed contract period is indicative, from 1 January 2030 to 31 December 2039. The procurement is planned as a single lot, marked as suitable for SMEs, and is above the relevant threshold. The published procurement value is recorded as £0 in GBP. No award or contract has been made. Businesses interested in shaping the requirement should review the background information and instructions and submit their RFI response through the specified online process. The work is likely to suit contractors and infrastructure providers with experience delivering large, safety-critical communications projects across the rail network or other complex operational environments. Relevant capabilities include civil engineering for trackside sites, surveying and site preparation, design and installation of towers and masts, foundations and associated infrastructure, telecommunications construction, optical-fibre cabling and connections to communication or power networks. Suppliers able to assess existing GSM-R masts for potential reuse may be well placed to contribute. The scale also favours organisations with substantial delivery capacity, nationwide mobilisation, supply-chain management and experience coordinating works around live railway operations. The engagement gives capable suppliers an opportunity to explain their technical approach, delivery model, asset-reuse capability and the practical constraints that should inform any later procurement. ## Notice The Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) represents a critical replacement of the current Global System for Mobile Communications-Railway (GSM-R) system, transitioning the GB rail network to a future-proofed, 5G-enabled communications platform. This migration will strengthen mission-critical voice and data capabilities, whilst supporting existing operational railway systems. FRMCS rollout will comprise three core technical aspects: 1.Trackside civils - potentially 4,000 - 5,000 masts (including some potential re-use of existing GSM-R masts) and associated infrastructure 2.Train fitment - radio and associated equipment on all trains across the network 3.FRMCS active network - Core, RAN etc. Trackside civils is a critical focus area for FRMCS delivery & Network Rail is therefore issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to engage with the supply chain and inform potential future procurement of FRMCS trackside civils infrastructure. Please note that any content received via response to this RFI will be used for information purposes only and will not be deemed as forming part of any proposed bid now, or any potential future tender. ### Planning Information To access the background information and instruction document which includes a link to an MS Form to enter your response, please: 1. Follow the link: https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html 2. From the welcome screen, access the "Current Opportunities" link and select "Future Railway Mobile Communications System (FRMCS) Trackside Civils". Login is not required. 3. The document is at the bottom of the page in the attachments section. Deadline for responding is 23:59 on 30th September 2026. Any clarification questions relating to the RFI should be directed to aker.akol2@networkrail.co.uk ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079220-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 19 Aug 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 30 Sep 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Jan 2030 - 31 Dec 2039 | | 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 | NETWORK RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITED | | Locality | LONDON | | Postcode area | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment - 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus) - 45 - Construction work ### Codes - 32523000 - Telecommunications facilities - 32562200 - Optical telecommunication cables - 32562300 - Optical-fibre cables for data transmission - 44212200 - Towers, lattice masts, derricks and pylons - 44212250 - Masts - 44212261 - Radio masts - 44212263 - Lattice masts - 45231000 - Construction work for pipelines, communication and power lines - 45232300 - Construction and ancillary works for telephone and communication lines ## Release History - 19 Aug 2026 at 17:40 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079220-2026 - 19 Aug 2026 at 16:41 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079188-2026 - 19 Aug 2026 at 14:53 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079073-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079220-2026 19th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079188-2026 19th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079073-2026 19th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html - 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-06e7cc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e7cc.json.