GWR - Provision of Freight Operating Company (FOC) Drivers, Person in Charge (PIC) and Shunters to support GWR in delivering passenger mitigations during planned perturbation.

Official notice

Authority: FIRST GREATER WESTERN LIMITED (Public body)

7 lotsServicesCompetitive flexible procedureAbove thresholdUtilities

Sectors: Transport & Passenger Services (60) Delivery: West Midlands (UKG)London (UKI)South East (UKJ)

+2 more

South West (UKK)Wales (UKL)

Published estimate£16,000,000total for 7 lots · £16,000,000 inc. VAT · 1 value update

Submissions closed 10 Jun 2026

Lots 7see the lot list below

Contract term 1 yrends 31 Jul 2027 · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensions · starts 1 Aug 2026

What is being bought7 lots · detail below

Published requirement description

The tender will be split into separate lots, those submitting bids, can bid on individual lots, all lots and can also submit a bid against lot/s as a joint venture. Any joint submissions must clearly define which operator is doing what.

No sub-contracting is permitted once relevant contract has been awarded.

An overview is provided below of all the requirements and how the bids will be divided into sections.

The lots have been divided into 7 categories:

Lot 1 - Passenger Diversions (80x and Night Riviera (cl.57 and Mk3 coaches)) and associated Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) moves to/from LNP via WLL, via GWML & South West Sidings (SWS), and Reading Train Care Depot (RTCD).
Lot 2 - Electric/hybrid loco plus Driver (with 1000v Electric Train Supply (ETS))
Lot 3 - London North Pole 387s/Heathrow Express (HEx) units
Lot 4 - Fairwater Yard - Didcot Railway Centre
Lot 5 - South Marston and High Output Operations Base (HOOB) (if required)
Lot 6 - Didcot Railway Centre (DRC)
Lot 7 - Reading Upper Triangle

To have a pool of trained Drivers and PICs to deliver GWR passenger diversions and GWR Depot Strategy when required. There will be a requirement to maintain competency, for Drivers and PICs on all applicable routes, traction and locations. A variation will then be issued for each possession where there is a requirement for Depot Strategy (only applicable locations) and/or passenger diversions and for what duration.

How the procedure runs: The Expression of Interest (EOI) will be launched initially, with tender invitations issued throughout the EOI period in order to maximise bidder engagement and preparation time. All bidders will be provided with a minimum of 25 days to review the tender documentation and submit their response. Following submission, Great Western Railway (GWR) will review all responses and issue clarification questions where required to ensure proposals are fully understood and evaluated consistently. Bidder presentation sessions will be arranged following the submission deadline and will be clearly referenced within the tender documentation. These sessions will provide bidders with the opportunity to present their proposals, demonstrate their approach for each lot, and respond to technical and commercial questions from the evaluation panel.

CPV: Railway transport services

Lots and requirements (7)Procurement structure

7 lots · all with a published value (£16,000,000 together) · same evaluation weights on every lot

Lot #1Passenger DiversionsRenewal 1 yrPublished value£8,800,000

Passenger Diversions (80x and Night Riviera (cl.57 and Mk3 coaches)) and associated Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) moves to/from LNP via WLL, via GWML & South West Sidings (SWS), and Reading Train Care Depot (RTCD).

Contract period: 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2027 (1 yr) · up to 31 Jul 2031 with extensionsValue: £8,800,000 exc. VAT · £8,800,000 inc. VAT

Delivery: South West

Extensions: Each contract will include the option for four separate extension periods of 12 months each, exercisable at Great Western Railway's (GWR) discretion. All stated volumes are indicative only and remain subject to the operational requirements of the railway industry. GWR reserves the right to adjust, reallocate, or redistribute values across any of the lots in line with business needs and demand throughout the contract term.

60200000 Railway transport services

Lot #2Electric/hybrid loco plus DriverRenewal 1 yrPublished value£1,200,000

Electric/hybrid loco plus Driver (with 1000v Electric Train Supply (ETS))