- Scope of the procurement
- Lot 1. Provision of new or refurbished locomotives capable of operating with the MK5 fleet over electrified and non-electrified routes, including potential financing options for the same
- Lot 2. Provision of maintenance, spares and facilities to support the locomotive fleet
- Lot 3. Provision of drivers and associated support
- Lot 4. Provision of operational control and associated support
Section one: Contracting entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Caledonian Sleeper Limited
Basement and Ground Floor Premises, 1-5 Union Street
Inverness
IV1 1PP
procurement@caledoniansleeper.scot
Telephone
+44 3300600500
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA30648
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
one.6) Main activity
Railway services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Market Engagement Notice – Caledonian Sleeper Limited Locomotive and operational services provision
Reference number
CPT-058
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 60200000 - Railway transport services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This notice is published by Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL) and is intended to advertise a forthcoming market engagement exercise. This is in relation to an intended procurement for the contracted provision of locomotives and associated operational services to CSL due to the current arrangements expiring in 2030. This procurement will be subject to approval from Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.
The services being sought include:
Provision of new or refurbished locomotives capable of operating with the MK5 fleet over electrified and non-electrified routes
Provision of maintenance, spares and facilities to support the locomotive fleet
Provision of drivers and associated support
Provision of operational control and associated support
This market engagement is open to all entities capable of supplying all or part of the services being sought. The principal aim of this exercise is to understand the potential solutions available to CSL to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of those services and market interest from suitably qualified providers in contracting with CSL to provide those solutions. CSL is open to input and expertise from the market to help shape the successful future of the operation.
CSL intends to undertake further procurement steps as appropriate following completion of market engagement.
Any interested parties should send an email requesting further details a Non-Disclosure Agreement to procurement@caledoniansleeper.scot, they will be required to return a signed non-disclosure agreement prior to any further engagement with CSL. This NDA will cover all information shared by CSL and also any engagement with Scottish Rail Holdings or Transport Scotland as applicable. Following receipt of any registered interest expressed through PCS and subject to a signed NDA, CSL intends to invite those parties to complete and return a Market Engagement Questionnaire (MEQ) and may also set up initial engagement sessions either virtually or in person with some, all or none of those parties based on the MEQ responses received. The NDA will be required to ensure fair and effective competition in the preparation and conduct of the tender competition and is in the interests of achieving Best value for the tax payer.
Interested entities should note that invitations to (and information on) subsequent events or activities (such as technical meetings and questionnaires) will only be provided to those entities who have registered by following the instructions above. There will be no further notice of those subsequent events.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
The contracting authority reserves the right to award contracts combining the following lots or groups of lots:
Any or all lots
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Provision of new or refurbished locomotives capable of operating with the MK5 fleet over electrified and non-electrified routes, including potential financing options for the same
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 60200000 - Railway transport services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This notice is published by Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL) and is intended to advertise a forthcoming market engagement exercise. This is in relation to an intended procurement for the contracted provision of locomotives and associated operational services to CSL due to the current arrangements expiring in 2030. This procurement will be subject to approval from Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.
The services being sought include:
Provision of new or refurbished locomotives capable of operating with the MK5 fleet over electrified and non-electrified routes, including potential financing options for the same
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Provision of maintenance, spares and facilities to support the locomotive fleet
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 60200000 - Railway transport services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This notice is published by Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL) and is intended to advertise a forthcoming market engagement exercise. This is in relation to an intended procurement for the contracted provision of locomotives and associated operational services to CSL due to the current arrangements expiring in 2030. This procurement will be subject to approval from Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.
The services being sought include:
Provision of maintenance, spares and facilities to support the locomotive fleet
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Provision of drivers and associated support
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 60200000 - Railway transport services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This notice is published by Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL) and is intended to advertise a forthcoming market engagement exercise. This is in relation to an intended procurement for the contracted provision of locomotives and associated operational services to CSL due to the current arrangements expiring in 2030. This procurement will be subject to approval from Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.
The services being sought include:
Provision of drivers and associated support
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Provision of operational control and associated support
Lot No
4
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 60200000 - Railway transport services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This notice is published by Caledonian Sleeper Limited (CSL) and is intended to advertise a forthcoming market engagement exercise. This is in relation to an intended procurement for the contracted provision of locomotives and associated operational services to CSL due to the current arrangements expiring in 2030. This procurement will be subject to approval from Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.
The services being sought include:
Provision of operational control and associated support
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
14 November 2025
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This exercise is being conducted ahead of any potential formal procurement process and does not constitute a pre-qualification or tendering exercise. The outcomes are intended to inform CSL’s decision-making process and tender documentation if a procurement takes place in the future.
All information provided by CSL during the market engagement events remains under development, is not intended by CSL to create any contract or other commitment (including as to whether or not to launch any procurement process or the basis of such a process) and is not intended by CSL to be otherwise relied on by any person to any extent. CSL shall have no liability for any losses incurred by any person as a result of any such reliance.
Any costs of participation in the market engagement events will be borne by the participant.
Prospective suppliers with the necessary capacity and capability are invited to register their interest on the Public Contracts Scotland site and send an NDA request via email by 20th March 2025. CSL will then invite all interested parties to complete and submit our nondisclosure agreement (NDA). Once the NDA process is complete, entities will be asked to complete a Market Engagement Questionnaire. It is anticipated that the Market Engagement Questionnaire deadline for submission is 18th April with CSL reviewing submissions as they are received.
CSL intends to hold follow-up engagement sessions with some, all or more individual entities based on the responses received. These sessions will be arranged following receipt of questionnaire submissions, either via MS teams or in person.
NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=790099.
(SC Ref:790099)