Official UK procurement notice
Rail Replacement Service Ticket Acceptance Service Routes
Authority: Transport for Wales Rail Limited (Utility Buyer) (Public body)
Sectors: Transport & Passenger Services (60) Delivery: Wales (UKL)
Awarded value£794,133published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition
Award (standstill) to Cardiff City Transport Services Limited T/A Cardiff Bus
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionTransport for Wales Rail Limited (TfWRL) intends to award contracts directly to specified bus operators to establish ticket acceptance arrangements during planned and unplanned rail service disruption. The contracts will enable customers holding valid rail tickets or eligible concessionary rail passes to travel on designated scheduled local bus services where those services provide a suitable alternative to the disrupted rail route. The arrangements may be activated as required to support Rail Replacement Services for pre-planned, emergency and ad hoc issues arising e.g. create spare capacity (disruption events), helping TfWRL maintain customer journeys, support integrated public transport and reduce the need for dedicated rail replacement vehicles where suitable existing bus services are available.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
60100000 Road transport services
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- 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
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 5 Oct 2026, 15:06 BST
- Last source update
- 5 Oct 2026, 15:06 BST
- Authority reference
TfW1092.00- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-093914- Latest notice
- Transparency notice (UK5)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0780f3Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons; Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights
- Published justification
- The suppliers being awarded the contracts are the only operators of the services that could provide an alternative travel method for customers affected by disruption, as these bus routes are either operated by a Mutual aligned to a Local Authority or have been awarded public service route via LA or TfW competition in accordance with public sector procurement rules. Only operators already providing public service bus routes under the current public transport network are able to provide these services. In accordance with Schedule 5 of PA23, the following conditions are met in relation to the public contract— 5 (a) due to a particular operator having the exclusive right to operate the bus routes suitable to temporarily substitute rail services hence only that operator can supply the services required; and 5(b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those service providers. Ticket Acceptance is used where it is not operationally or commercially viable to provide a dedicated rail replacement service and provides a better value for money alternative, enabling passengers to continue their journey using existing public transport services.
Review and risk notes
- Risks
- The proposed contract will be awarded for 5 years with options to extend as may be needed to align to the TfW Bus Franchising Programme. Conversely, agreements may be terminated early in line with the letting of bus franchise routes. The final value of the contacts cannot be determined as the use of Ticket Acceptance is heavily influenced by discrete disruption events. The prevailing need is to maintain a critical transport infrastructure ensuring passengers have choice of how to continue their journey in times of disruption. Additional Ticket Acceptance agreements may be required if new routes are awarded or operator agreements come to a natural end and are awarded to another provider, or terminated early for whatever reason. Other contingent risks may include: Unforeseen operational issues arising during transition. Unidentified interface risks with third-party operators. Potential supply chain disruption. Emerging regulatory or policy changes. Unexpected service demand fluctuations. Unknown technical dependencies discovered during implementation.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecastAwards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value £794,1331 award exc. VAT
| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff City Transport Services Limited T/A Cardiff BusRail Replacement Ticket Acceptance Service Routes1 Nov 2026 — 31 Oct 2031 · up to 31 Oct 2032Extensions: Extensions in line with TfW Bus Franchising Programme. · Options: Additional Routes - Where ticket acceptance may be required on routes not currently identified within Wales and across the Border regions during the contract term. The Authority may increase or decrease the volume of services required to reflect passenger demand, timetable amendments or operational requirements. The Authority reserves the right to extend coverage to additional local authority areas, train operating company interfaces or cross-border services where required. The Authority reserves the right to introduce additional ticket validation, reporting or digital integration requirements during the contract term and subject to mutual agreement and associated charges with the operator. The Authority reserves the right to continue the arrangements until completion of a replacement competitive procurement and mobilisation of a successor contractor. | £794,133 | — | Standstill |
Notice history
2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 5 Oct 2026- Contract signature expected28 Oct 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Transparency notice published5 Oct 2026, 15:06 BSTUK5
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Cardiff City Transport Services Limited T/A Cardiff BusAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Conflict of interest declarationNot published
Notices published for this procedure
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender