Official UK procurement notice
Train Services Agreement relating to the maintenance of Class 385 Train Units
Authority: ScotRail Trains Limited
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThis notice concerns the award of a Train Services Agreement (TSA) by Abellio ScotRail Limited (Abellio) to Hitachi Rail (Hitachi) for both light and heavy maintenance services for 234 Class 385 Vehicles (Trains) operated by Abellio.
Abellio was not required to (and did not) undertake a regulated procurement in relation to the award of the TSA.
The TSA commenced on 3 March 2015, and was transferred to ScotRail Trains Limited (ScotRail) pursuant to a transfer scheme made by the Scottish Ministers under the Railways Act 1995 on 7 February 2022. The Trains are part of the train fleet used by ScotRail to discharge its obligations in relation to the provision of services for the carriage of passengers by railway under the grant agreement entered into by the Scottish Ministers, Scottish Rail Holdings Limited and ScotRail in June 2022 (the Grant Agreement).
The TSA will terminate on 31 March 2025 and SRT intends to extend the TSA to 31 March 2032 (as detailed in this notice) in order to procure the continued light and heavy maintenance of the Trains, Spares and Special Tools (the Services) required to allow it to continue to use the Trains as part of the train fleet required to allow ScotRail to discharge its obligations under the Grant Agreement.
CPV: Railway and tramway locomotives and rolling stock and associated parts · Repair and maintenance services of rolling stock
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1SRT intends to modify the TSA to extend the end date to 31 March 2032 and make…Awarded
SRT intends to modify the TSA to extend the end date to 31 March 2032 and make incidental changes as necessary to effect the extended end date and reflect the updated regulatory landscape.
Viewed in the context of the TSA the modification is not considered to be substantial within the meaning of Regulation 86(1)(e) of the Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016 (UCSR).
In any event, the modification is permitted by Regulation 86(1)(b) UCSR because a change of maintainer could not be made for economic or technical reasons and would cause significant inconvenience and/or substantial duplication of costs for ScotRail. Hitachi is the only maintainer with the necessary depot facilities, technical systems and capacity to provide the Services when the TSA terminates on 31 March 2025.
Hitachi has exclusive rights to perform light maintenance services at the relevant depot (Craigentinny Depot, Edinburgh) pursuant to Section 8 of the Railways Act 1993, and ScotRail considers that the light and heavy maintenance services are not separable. ScotRail considers that the extension is the optimum period needed to allow it to continue to provide vital rail services. Additional information: The figures provided in this notice are indicative estimates only. The relevant rates and prices within the TSA have been increased in line with indexation and also to reflect agreed overhauls / significant maintenance activities that the parties are aware will need to take place during the amended contract term. Additionally it does not cover any performance related or out of scope charges.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0025 Utilities Contracts Regulations 2016 (Directive 2014/25/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- 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
- 18 Feb 2026, 10:42 GMT
- Last source update
- 18 Feb 2026, 10:42 GMT
- Authority reference
SR-PACT-PROJ-205- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-014635- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0656c8Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons
- Published justification
Please see section II.2.4 of this notice.
- Review procedure
In accordance with Part 5 (Remedies) of The Utilities Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2016.
Publisher note: For the avoidance of doubt this contract is going to be awarded to Hitachi Rail Limited (05598549) which is noted within PCS as Hitachi Rail Europe. Please note that this contract was originally covered by a VEAT Notice, followed by a Modification Notice whereby SRT advised the following "modified the TSA to extend the end date to 31st March 2032 and made incidental changes as necessary to effect the extended end date and reflect the updated regulatory landscape". (SC Ref:823996)
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hitachi Rail Europe | — | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 014635-2026-1 · Hitachi Rail Europe
- Signed
- 27 Mar 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Dispute resolution & review bodies
- High Court of JusticiaryReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Hitachi Rail EuropeAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.