AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Northern Trains Limited has announced a pending direct award to ScotRail Trains Limited for the sub-lease of one Class 156 two-car diesel multiple unit (unit 156492) for Northumberland line passenger operations. The published award has not yet reached its scheduled signature date.
Published outcomeOne pending award names verified supplier ScotRail Trains Limited. The published net award value is GBP 487,315.54; gross value is GBP 584,778.65.
Market significanceThe notice describes a direct award based on technical compatibility, immediate availability and required deployment timescales, rather than a competed market exercise.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
SCOTRAIL TRAINS LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · 487315.54 GBP · Pending award
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Award 1 names supplier GB-COH-SC328826; supplier verification identifies SCOTRAIL TRAINS LIMITED, company number SC328826, using company-number matching. Award value is GBP 487,315.54.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Published procurement stage
99% confidenceContract award notice; process marked complete, with award pending
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Process notice type is "Contract award notice on Find a Tender" and process status is complete; award 1 status is pending.
Award decision date
99% confidence20 October 2026
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Award 1 date: 2026-10-20T00:00:00+01:00.
Standstill end
99% confidence29 October 2026, 23:59:59 UTC
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Award 1 standstillPeriod.endDate: 2026-10-29T23:59:59+00:00.
Scheduled signature date
99% confidence2 November 2026
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Award milestone type futureSignatureDate has dueDate 2026-11-02T23:59:59Z and status scheduled.
Contract status
99% confidenceNot evidenced as signed or commenced
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Award status is pending and signature is scheduled for a future date.
VALUES
Published values explained
Award value, excluding VAT basis not explicitly stated
98% confidenceGBP 487,315.54
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Award 1 value.amount is 487315.54 GBP. The notice does not expressly label this as excluding VAT.
Award gross value
99% confidenceGBP 584,778.65
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Award 1 value.amountGross is 584778.65 GBP.
Value allocation
97% confidenceAllocated to the single published award; no separate lot value published
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There is one award linked to lot 1. Lot 1 has no value_amount.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Transparency notice publication
99% confidence30 September 2026
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Release history records transparency notice 092255-2026 released at 2026-09-30T11:13:32+01:00.
Contract award notice publication
99% confidence20 October 2026
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Award document 099157-2026 was published at 2026-10-20T16:03:38+01:00.
Planned contract start
99% confidence4 November 2026
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Award 1 contractPeriod.startDate: 2026-11-04T00:00:00Z.
Planned contract end
99% confidence31 March 2028
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Award 1 contractPeriod.endDate: 2028-03-31T23:59:59+01:00.
Planned term
94% confidenceApproximately 17 months, subject to signature and commencement
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Calculated from the published planned start and end dates; award remains pending.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
99% confidenceTemporary sub-lease of one Class 156 two-car diesel multiple unit
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Tender description states that the arrangement comprises sub-leasing one Class 156 two-car diesel multiple unit from ScotRail Trains Limited.
Identified rolling-stock unit
99% confidenceClass 156 unit 156492
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Description identifies proposed unit 156492.
Operational purpose
99% confidenceSupport passenger rail operations on the Northumberland line
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Tender description states the additional rolling stock is required for Northumberland line passenger operations.
Funding context
98% confidenceRequested and funded by North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (NEMSA)
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Tender description says the requirement was requested and funded by NEMSA.
Categories
99% confidenceGoods, with additional services classification
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Award 1 mainProcurementCategory is goods and additionalProcurementCategories includes services.
CPV classifications
99% confidenceRolling stock (34620000); financial leasing services (66114000)
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Award item 1 lists these CPV classifications.
Delivery regions
99% confidenceUKC, UKD, UKE and UKF
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Award item delivery addresses list regions UKC, UKD, UKE and UKF.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceDirect award
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Process procurementMethod is direct and procurementMethodDetails is Direct award.
Legal basis cited by buyer
98% confidenceParagraph 6 of Schedule 5, Procurement Act 2023
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Tender description states Northern intends to direct award on this basis.
Buyer-stated rationale
99% confidenceSingle supplier for technical reasons
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Tender description labels the reason for direct award as "Single supplier - technical reasons".
Buyer-stated technical rationale
98% confidenceThe unit was stated to be immediately available, compatible with Northern's existing Class 156 fleet, and capable of using existing operational, maintenance, training and engineering arrangements
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Tender description sets out these claimed operational and technical considerations.
Competition outcome
98% confidenceNo competed tender or bid count is published
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The process is recorded as a direct award; no submissions or bidder data are supplied.
Regime
99% confidenceUtilities
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Tender specialRegime lists utilities.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Published planned period
99% confidence4 November 2026 to 31 March 2028
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Award 1 contractPeriod provides these dates.
Sub-leasing provision
96% confidencePermits sub-leasing to other operators in specified circumstances, with longer-term sub-leasing requiring consent
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Tender description describes short-term sub-leasing under 48 hours and longer-term sub-leasing with consent.
Transfer provision
96% confidenceThe lease permits assignment, transfer, novation or disposal to a qualifying public-sector operator on the Northern Network
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Tender description describes a Transfer mechanism.
Modification provision
96% confidenceThe lease contains mechanisms for rolling-stock modifications requested by Northern or the lessor, including where legally required
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Tender description describes Modification Provisions and states the buyer considers certain related changes permitted modifications.
Extension or renewal terms
99% confidenceUnknown
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No extension or renewal option is supplied in the published data.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Fleet compatibility focus
97% confidenceThe buyer states that using the identified Class 156 unit would minimise implementation risk and support continuity through existing arrangements.
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Tender description gives this buyer-stated rationale.
Availability constraint
97% confidenceThe buyer states that unit 156492 was the only option capable of meeting requirements within the necessary timeframe and was available only from ScotRail under the proposed sub-lease.
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Tender description sets out this buyer-stated conclusion.
Market access implication
98% confidenceThe opportunity was not presented as open to competing rolling-stock suppliers because the buyer cited technical reasons and absence of competition.
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Direct-award method and tender description.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Pending award status
99% confidenceThe notice is an award announcement, but the award remains pending; it must not be treated as a signed, active or commenced contract.
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Award 1 status is pending; future signature date is scheduled for 2 November 2026.
Contract dates are planned
98% confidencePublished start and end dates are contract-period fields and remain contingent on completion of the pending award.
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Award 1 is pending while contractPeriod lists 4 November 2026 to 31 March 2028.
Information not supplied in the published notice
99% confidenceNo lot title, lot description, individual lot value, bid count, evaluation scores, pricing breakdown, extension terms or renewal option is published.
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Lot 1 has no title, description or value; supplied data contain no competition metrics, scoring, pricing breakdown or renewal fields.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The award is pending, with a scheduled signature date; no executed contract is evidenced.
- The published contract period is planned and does not evidence actual commencement.
- No lot title, lot description or individual lot value is supplied.
- No bid count, bidder list, evaluation methodology, scores, pricing breakdown, extension terms or renewal option is supplied.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Northern TrainsScotRail Trains LimitedClass 156rolling stock leaseNorthumberland linedirect awardrail procurement
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who is the named supplier?
The pending award names verified legal supplier SCOTRAIL TRAINS LIMITED (company number SC328826).
Has the contract been signed?
No signed contract is evidenced. The award is pending and the notice schedules signature for 2 November 2026.
What is being procured?
A temporary sub-lease of one Class 156 two-car diesel multiple unit, identified as unit 156492.
What is the published award value?
The published award value is GBP 487,315.54, with a gross value of GBP 584,778.65.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.