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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Sub-Lease of Class 156 Diesel Multiple Unit

NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED · Transparency notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 30 Sept 2026, 20:47.

Opportunity overview

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.

Awarded to

Amounts belong to published awards or contracts. Where several suppliers share one value, it is labelled as shared and is not a supplier-specific allocation.

SCOTRAIL TRAINS LIMITED

Matched by number
Published award value
£487.3k
Awarded
Not supplied
Award ID
1
Status
pending
Identifier
GB-COH SC328826
Location
Glasgow, UKM82, G2 6HQ, United Kingdom

Classification

No classification was supplied.

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-077d4e
Status
complete
Procurement Method
direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Why this procedure was chosen
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.

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Special regime

utilities

Procedure reasons

Entry 1
Id
singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
complete

Published documents

Entry 1
Id
conflictOfInterest
Document Type
conflictOfInterest
Description
Not published

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED
Id
GB-COH-03076444

Identifier

Scheme
GB-COH
Id
03076444

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PZCJ-2164-HJQZ

Address

Street Address
George Stephenson House
Locality
York
Postal Code
YO1 6JT
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKE21

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthorityCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - central government
Organisation 2
Name
SCOTRAIL TRAINS LIMITED
Id
GB-COH-SC328826

Identifier

Scheme
GB-COH
Id
SC328826

Additional Identifiers

Entry 1
Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PBZD-6687-WNPQ

Address

Street Address
Atrium Court
Locality
Glasgow
Postal Code
G2 6HQ
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKM82

Contact

Roles

supplier

Details

Scale
large
Vcse
No

Award information

Award 1
Id
1
Status
pending
Main Procurement Category
goods
Above Threshold
Yes

Items

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
34620000
Description
Rolling stock
Entry 2
Scheme
CPV
Id
66114000
Description
Financial leasing services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UKC
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 2
Region
UKD
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 3
Region
UKE
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Entry 4
Region
UKF
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Value

Including VAT
584,778.65
Amount
487,315.54
Currency
GBP

Additional Procurement Categories

services

Suppliers

Supplier 1
Id
GB-COH-SC328826
Name
SCOTRAIL TRAINS LIMITED

Contract period

Starts
1 Nov 2026, 00:00
Ends
31 Mar 2028, 23:59

Related lots

1

Documents

Entry 1
Id
092255-2026
Document Type
awardNotice
Notice Type
UK5
Description
Transparency notice on Find a Tender
Published
30 Sept 2026, 11:13
Format
text/html

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
1
Type
futureSignatureDate
Due
1 Nov 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · York · UKE21 · YO1 6JT · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. 092255-2026Transparency notice on Find a Tender ·