This notice announces an administrative change to an existing contract or market (a contract change notice). No new tender or admission is opened here; see the linked notices below for the original opportunity.
Official UK procurement notice
Direct award of a Lease for Class 444/450 rolling stock
Authority: SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY LIMITED (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionDirect award of a contract of between 3 to 5 years in duration (which remains subject to settlement of commercial terms) for the leasing of 45 x 5 car units of Class 444 rolling stock and 127 x 4 car units of Class 450 rolling stock and related spares and special tools. The lease of the rolling stock is on the basis that the contracting authority (rather than the supplier) is responsible for all maintenance of the vehicles.
The Lease also contains a right to transfer or sub-let the contract to certain third parties and an obligation for the supplier to enter into a direct agreement with the Secretary of State in parallel to the Lease. The direct agreement permits the Secretary of State to call for a New Contract in the event of the termination or expiry of the contracting authority's services agreement with the Secretary of State.
The duration of the New Contract would typically be up to 3 years and the terms of the New Contract and the circumstances in which the direct agreement can be relied upon are all
unambiguously set out in the direct agreement. The Lease also contains provisions addressing adjustments to monthly rentals on the basis specified in the Lease if certain modifications to the rolling stock are required which are to be funded by the Lessor. In the event that the contract is transferred or sub-let to a third party, a direct agreement is relied upon by the Secretary of State or modifications to the rolling stock are required and are to be
funded by the Lessor, it is considered that these would be permitted modifications provided for in the contract.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Administrative change
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Utilities
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 13 May 2025, 17:30 BST
- Last source update
- 22 Aug 2025, 16:21 BST
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-051007- Latest notice
- Contract change notice (UK10)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-051276Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
No fleet than other the Angel Class 444 and 450 are able to meet the operational and/or capacity requirements that the contracting authority needs from this rolling stock for the necessary contract duration to meet its public passenger rail transport obligations. There is therefore an absence of competition for technical reasons. Any alternatives identified were unsuitable in length/door configuration, would not be convertible to DC within a reasonable period and/or a large shortfall in the number of available units. There are therefore no reasonable alternatives to the Class 444 and 450 rolling stock.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
22 May 2025 → 22 Aug 2025 · 2 dates- Standstill ends22 May 2025, 23:59 BST
- Notice published22 Aug 2025, 16:21 BST
Notice history
5 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 13 May 2025- Transparency notice published13 May 2025, 17:30 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published13 May 2025, 22:21 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected24 May 2025, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published2 Jul 2025, 14:35 BSTUK7
- Contract change notice published22 Aug 2025, 16:21 BSTUK10
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-05: 1 release · 13 May 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANGEL TRAINS LIMITED25 May 2025 – 25 May 2030 | £346,826,280 | 13 May 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · ANGEL TRAINS LIMITED
- Signed
- 25 May 2025
- Value
- £346,826,280
- Period
- 22 Aug 2025 – 25 May 2030
- Status
- active
- Change 21 Aug 2025 This is not a modification of the contract. This notice has a copy of the redacted contract included, which is a mandatory requirement. Find a Tender service currently doesn't have the functionality to edit the notices to attach it.
No agreed KPIs: Due to the nature of the agreement as a lease arrangement.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- ANGEL TRAINS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract change notice Contract change notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender