Class 170 Rolling Stock Lease

The Lease is being modified in accordance with regulation 86(1)(b) of the Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016 as additional supplies not included within the original procurement have become necessary, and a change of contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons and would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of cost for SRT, because:

1. The modification has become necessary: there is a need to secure the ongoing operation of the Lease, which includes lifeline services in rural and east suburban areas, while SRT carries out a full procurement for an enduring rolling stock solution using emerging technologies (including batteries and network electrification). Diesel trains are the only feasible option for this interim period.
2. A change of contractor cannot be made for economic or technical reasons: this is because:

a. the Fleet has specific characteristics and technical features that are designed to interoperate with the rail infrastructure and SRT’s other fleets and are required for operation on the East Suburban Lines. For example:

i. the Fleet is the only available DMU passenger stock which is fully accepted for operation on these lines and is able to make use of differential speed limits to meet the required journey times;

ii. the Fleet has been fitted with Variable Rate Sanding Equipment, funded by the Scottish Targeted Performance Fund, to offer improved braking performance in low adhesion environments and support SRT’s safety case;

iii. the Fleet is able to maintain technical compatibility with the network (including the CL158 fleet with which it is required to operate interchangeably) and depots, ensuring SRT satisfies the operational requirements stipulated in its Grant Agreement with Scottish Ministers.

iv. any alternative Fleet would require an extensive programme of train crew and engineering staff training, incurring significant training which would create significant additional (and disproportionate) training workload at a time when SRT is already engaged in an intensive programme of recruitment for future fleet cascades and new trains;

v. Please note a Section 54 agreement has been agreed in relation to the Fleet.

b. SRT’s analysis has confirmed that there are no alternative available fleets (other than the CL158s that SRT already operates) that contain the necessary technical features and could meet these requirements.

In the event that an alternative existing fleet with suitable performance and technical characteristics was available (which in SRT’s view is not the case), and that fleet could be adapted to accommodate the necessary technical features, this would result in substantial duplication of cost, significant inconvenience and extra time out of service, which would be disproportionate in the context of an interim solution