---
title: "Rail Operating system and Software support"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e8ff"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e8ff"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e8ff.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e8ff.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED"
published: "2026-08-20"
---

# Rail Operating system and Software support

Buyer: SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e8ff

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e8ff)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e8ff.json)

## Summary

South Western Railway Limited procured rail operating system and software support services from Worldline IT Services UK Limited. The requirement is for a platform that supports stock and crew rostering and train planning, enabling delivery of the train service. The work covers IT services including software development, consulting and ongoing support. It relates to business-critical systems integrated into the railway operator’s operational architecture and supports continuity while a partial replacement system is implemented and the remaining requirements are tendered. Delivery covers locations across England, including London and the English regions. This is a single-service requirement for a public undertaking operating in the utilities sector, aimed at maintaining reliable railway operations through integrated planning and rostering technology.

The procurement is complete and was awarded on 20 August 2026 after a direct award. Worldline IT Services UK Limited was selected for the single lot. The award is worth £4,307,434 excluding VAT, or £5,168,920.80 including VAT. The contract period runs from 2 September 2026 to 31 March 2031, with signature scheduled for 2 September 2026. South Western Railway justified the direct award because Worldline’s systems are business-critical and deeply integrated, while replacement requires 12–18 months of scoping, development, migration, testing and parallel running. Operating both systems is intended to avoid disruption while the replacement platform is implemented. The stated basis included exclusive intellectual property or rights held by a single supplier.

This award indicates demand from South Western Railway for specialist rail-operating technology that combines stock management, crew rostering and train planning with reliable software support. Competitors seeking similar work would need proven capability in complex operational platforms, software development, system integration, migration and testing, together with the capacity to support concurrent legacy and replacement systems. Experience of business-critical environments is particularly relevant, as is the ability to maintain service reliability while changes are designed, implemented and tested. Suppliers would also need to understand railway operational requirements and demonstrate that their technology can integrate into an established architecture. The direct-award rationale shows that deep system integration, intellectual property or exclusive rights, continuity and substantial transition capacity were decisive factors for this buyer.

## Notice

Provision of a platform to allow stock and crew rostering and train planning for delivery of the train service. Direct award for an interim period to allow continuity of service whilst a partial replacement system is implemented and the remainder is tendered.

### Procurement Information

Worldline systems are business-critical, deeply integrated into SWR's operational architecture, and cannot be replaced without 12-18 months of scoping, development, migration, testing, and parallel running. The replacement platform is still being implemented, requiring both systems to operate concurrently to maintain operational reliability and avoid unacceptable service disruption. The original agreement cannot be extended, and no suitable DPS or competitive procedure could be completed within the required timescales without materially impacting rail service delivery.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079635-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award 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 | 20 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 20 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 2 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £4,307,434 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 9LQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark |
| Local authority | Southwark |
| Electoral ward | Borough & Bankside |
| Westminster constituency | Bermondsey and Old Southwark |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Worldline IT Services UK Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

## Release History

- 20 Aug 2026 at 16:30 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079635-2026
- 20 Aug 2026 at 16:25 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079627-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079635-2026
  20th August 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079627-2026
  20th August 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.magellangroup.eu/

## 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-06e8ff. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e8ff.json.