---
title: "Route&Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000807348"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000807348"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000807348.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000807348.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP (HITRANS)"
published: "2025-09-19"
---

# Route&Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy

Buyer: HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP (HITRANS)  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000807348

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## Summary

The Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) is inviting tenders for the "Route & Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy" within the transport industry sector. The project aims to develop a comprehensive rail strategy for the Highlands and Islands area. The procurement process is currently in the tender stage, with a submission deadline set for 17th October 2025. The contract is valued at £50,000 excluding VAT and will commence on 20th October 2025, with an expected completion date of 31st March 2026. This open procedure calls for electronic submissions, targeting primarily consultants with expertise in rail development strategies. The goal is to align the region with Net Zero targets by 2045, starting from their base in Inverness, UKM6 region.

This tender presents significant opportunities for consultancies with proficiency in sustainable transport planning and development, especially those focusing on rail systems. Businesses with expertise in decarbonisation, strategic infrastructure planning, and community engagement are well-suited to compete for this contract. The successful consultancy will play a critical role in shaping the future rail network of the Highlands and Islands, contributing to decarbonisation and enhancing transport resilience. By engaging with HITRANS, businesses can expand their portfolio in a region poised for significant growth and development in sustainable transport solutions.

## Notice

Route and Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy Overview HITRANS is seeking a suitably qualified consultant to produce a Rail Development Strategy for the Highlands and Islands. This strategy will be designed to be a blueprint for the next 20 years, taking the region to Net Zero 2045. A budget of GBP50k ex VAT is available.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Route and Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy Overview HITRANS is seeking a suitably qualified consultant to produce a Rail Development Strategy for the Highlands and Islands. This strategy will be designed to be a blueprint for the next 20 years, taking the region to Net Zero 2045. A budget of GBP 50k ex VAT is available. Background In 2006 HITRANS, HIE and Highland Rail Partnership funded Room for Growth, a major report making the case for rail development in the HITRANS area. This led to two STPR1 projects being taken forward: Highland Main Line and Aberdeen-Inverness, although both have not been delivered as planned. Now with the HITRANS Regional Transport Strategy 2025 in place, the focus moves to each mode and the response to the NZ challenge. All Change Since 2014 a number of significant changes have occurred, including: -the establishment of Scotland's Railway bringing Network Rail Scotland and ScotRail into an alliance -changed travel behaviour as a result of Covid -the nationalisation of ScotRail and Caledonian Sleepers -the nationalisation of LNER -the drive to Net Zero 2045 -the 20% vehicle miles reduction target -the Rail Decarbonisation Action Plan -rail freight growth targets from DfT and Scottish Government -the establishment of Community Rail Partnerships -the creation of Scottish Rail Holdings -Far North Line Review Team and West Highland Line Review Group -Request to Stop -Inverness Airport Station -Inverness and Cromarty Forth Green Freeport -Inverness Station Masterplan -Fort William 2040 With the finalisation of our 2024 Regional Transport Strategy, it is now time to create a rail-specific daughter document to our RTS. Drivers of Change There are a number of key drivers that will result in changes to our rail network: -the refreshed Decarbonisation Action Plan -rolling stock replacement programme -STPR2 -fares reform and ticketing developments -focus on resilience impacted by climate change -Rail Reform and Great British Railways -signalling renewals -tourism trends -energy developments Route and Branch The study will identify shortcomings in our network and identify areas for development so that the railway plays its role in the move to Net Zero. Key to this will be decarbonised rolling stock and efficient freight on rail. We will work with colleagues at Nestrans, Tactran and SPT where we have overlapping interests. It will focus on: -electrification and alternative traction -journey time -frequency -scheduling -route capacity -route capability -terminal and depot capacity -integration with other modes -new station opportunities -accessibility -rail freight -resilience -traincrew deployment -open access operations and also consider policy areas such as rail devolution to a sub-regional level.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539579 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 17 Oct 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 20 Oct 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £50,000 |
| Lots value | £50,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP (HITRANS) |
| Locality | INVERNESS |
| Post town | Inverness |
| Postcode | IV1 1JJ |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands |
| ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands |
| Local authority | Highland |
| Electoral ward | Inverness Central |
| Westminster constituency | Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire |
| Delivery location | TLM6 Highlands and Islands |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

### Codes

- 63710000 - Support services for land transport

## Release History

- 19 Sep 2025 at 00:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539579

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539579
  Route&Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy - Route and Branch: HITRANS Rail Development Strategy Overview HITRANS is seeking a suitably qualified consultant to produce a Rail Development Strategy for the Highlands and Islands. This strategy will be designed to be a blueprint for the next 20 years, taking the region to Net Zero 2045. A budget of GBP50k ex VAT is available.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.hitrans.org.uk
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000807348
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=807348
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx

## 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-r6ebe6-0000807348. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000807348.json.