Find a TenderAwarded without competitionTransparency notice
Published 30 Sept 2026, 11:13 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Sub-Lease of Class 156 Diesel Multiple Unit

Official notice

Authority: Northern Trains Limited (Central government)

Direct awardUtilities
Awarded value£487,316published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition
Award (standstill) to ScotRail Trains Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Northern Trains Limited requires the temporary lease of additional rolling stock to support passenger rail operations on the Northumberland line as requested and funded by North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (NEMSA).

The arrangement comprises the sub-lease of one Class 156 two-car diesel multiple units from ScotRail Trains Limited.

The lease makes provision for sub-leasing of the rolling stock to other operators in specified circumstances under the lease, either on a short-term basis (under 48 hours) or on a longer term basis with consent. The lease also permits the assignment, transfer, novation or disposal of all of rights and obligations of the lessee under the lease (a "Transfer") to a public sector company who will also operate the rolling stock on the Northern Network. The lease also contains mechanisms which allow for modification of the rolling stock provided under the lease at the request of either Northern or the lessor, including where this is required by law ("the Modification Provisions"). In the event that the rolling stock is let to a third party, the lease is subject to a Transfer or any of the Modification Provisions are engaged, it is considered that these would be permitted modifications provided for in the contract.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Awarded
Delivery: North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humber, East Midlands
34620000 Rolling stock66114000 Financial leasing 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
30 Sept 2026, 11:13 BST
Last source update
30 Sept 2026, 11:13 BST
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-092255
Latest notice
Transparency notice (UK5)
Delivery area
North East (UKC)North West (UKD)Yorkshire & Humber (UKE)East Midlands (UKF)
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-077d4e Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification
Northern Trains Limited requires the temporary lease of additional rolling stock to support passenger rail operations on the Northumberland line as requested and funded by North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (NEMSA). Having undertaken a review of available rolling stock options and considered operational, technical and deployment requirements, Northern has identified the proposed Class 156 unit (156492) as the only option of meeting its requirements within the necessary timeframe. The proposed unit is immediately available for transfer from ScotRail Trains Limited and is technically compatible with Northern's existing Class 156 fleet. Introduction of this unit enables Northern to utilise existing operational, maintenance, training and engineering arrangements, thereby minimising implementation risk and ensuring continuity of service provision. Northern has not identified any reasonable alternative rolling stock solution capable of delivering the required operational benefits within the required timescales. Furthermore, the identified Class 156 unit is available only from ScotRail Trains Limited under the proposed sub-lease arrangement. Northern has identified that for technical reasons, competition is absent and the contract can be supplied only by the identified supplier. Northern intends to direct award on this basis in accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value £487,3161 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
ScotRail Trains Ltd1 Nov 2026 — 31 Mar 2028£487,316—Standstill

Notice history

2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 30 Sept 2026
  1. Contract signature expected
    1 Nov 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
  2. Transparency notice published
    30 Sept 2026, 11:13 BSTUK5

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-COH: 03076444 · GB-PPON: PZCJ-2164-HJQZ George Stephenson House, York, Yorkshire & Humber, YO1 6JT [email protected]

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications (2)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Conflict of interest declarationtenderConflict of interest declarationNot published

Notices published for this procedure

  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender