---
title: "Sub-Lease of Class 156 Diesel Multiple Unit"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077d4e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077d4e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077d4e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077d4e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Northern Trains Limited"
published: "2026-09-30"
---

# Sub-Lease of Class 156 Diesel Multiple Unit

Buyer: Northern Trains Limited  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077d4e

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## Summary

Northern Trains Limited is leasing one Class 156 two-car diesel multiple unit from ScotRail Trains Limited to provide additional rolling stock for passenger services on the Northumberland line. North East Mayoral Strategic Authority requested and funds the arrangement. The train is intended to support Northern’s rail operations, with the lease allowing it to be sub-leased to other operators in specified circumstances. It also allows the lease to be transferred to a public sector company operating on the Northern network, and provides for modifications to the train when requested or legally required. The work is the supply and financial leasing of rolling stock. The train will operate on Northern’s network; the stated delivery coverage spans northern England and Scotland.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to ScotRail Trains Limited by direct award. Northern selected the supplier because it identified ScotRail’s Class 156 unit as the only option able to meet its operational, technical and deployment requirements within the necessary timeframe; the unit was immediately available and compatible with Northern’s existing Class 156 fleet. The award value is £487,315.54 excluding VAT (£584,778.65 including VAT). The lease period runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2028. The award was published on 30 September 2026. The process had one lot, covering the sub-lease of the two-car diesel multiple unit. The contract permits specified sub-leasing, transfer and modification arrangements.

For suppliers considering similar rolling-stock requirements from Northern Trains, this outcome shows that a credible offer needs to meet a specific operational need while fitting the existing fleet and supporting established operating, maintenance, training and engineering arrangements. The selected train’s technical compatibility and immediate deployability were central to the buyer’s decision, alongside the ability to deliver within the required timescale and minimise implementation risk. Suppliers should be able to provide suitable diesel multiple units and support a lease structure that accommodates permitted transfers, sub-leasing and modifications. The requirement was met through a single-supplier direct award on technical grounds, so a competitor would need to demonstrate a viable alternative that satisfies the same operational and compatibility demands.

## Notice

Northern Trains Limited requires the temporary lease of additional rolling stock to support passenger rail operations on the Northumberland line as requested and funded by North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (NEMSA). The arrangement comprises the sub-lease of one Class 156 two-car diesel multiple units from ScotRail Trains Limited. The lease makes provision for sub-leasing of the rolling stock to other operators in specified circumstances under the lease, either on a short-term basis (under 48 hours) or on a longer term basis with consent. The lease also permits the assignment, transfer, novation or disposal of all of rights and obligations of the lessee under the lease (a "Transfer") to a public sector company who will also operate the rolling stock on the Northern Network. The lease also contains mechanisms which allow for modification of the rolling stock provided under the lease at the request of either Northern or the lessor, including where this is required by law ("the Modification Provisions"). In the event that the rolling stock is let to a third party, the lease is subject to a Transfer or any of the Modification Provisions are engaged, it is considered that these would be permitted modifications provided for in the contract.

### Procurement Information

Northern Trains Limited requires the temporary lease of additional rolling stock to support passenger rail operations on the Northumberland line as requested and funded by North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (NEMSA). Having undertaken a review of available rolling stock options and considered operational, technical and deployment requirements, Northern has identified the proposed Class 156 unit (156492) as the only option of meeting its requirements within the necessary timeframe. The proposed unit is immediately available for transfer from ScotRail Trains Limited and is technically compatible with Northern's existing Class 156 fleet. Introduction of this unit enables Northern to utilise existing operational, maintenance, training and engineering arrangements, thereby minimising implementation risk and ensuring continuity of service provision. Northern has not identified any reasonable alternative rolling stock solution capable of delivering the required operational benefits within the required timescales. Furthermore, the identified Class 156 unit is available only from ScotRail Trains Limited under the proposed sub-lease arrangement. Northern has identified that for technical reasons, competition is absent and the contract can be supplied only by the identified supplier. Northern intends to direct award on this basis in accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092255-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 30 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Nov 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £487,315 |
| 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 | Northern Trains Limited |
| Locality | YORK |
| Postcode area | York |
| Postcode | YO1 6JT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE2 North Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE21 York |
| Local authority | York |
| Electoral ward | Micklegate |
| Westminster constituency | York Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ScotRail Trains Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 66 - Financial and insurance services

### Codes

- 34620000 - Rolling stock
- 66114000 - Financial leasing services

## Release History

- 30 Sep 2026 at 11:13 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092255-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092255-2026
  30th September 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.scotrail.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-077d4e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077d4e.json.