Scope
Reference
TPT600
Description
The rail industry is calling on the UK’s brightest minds to help shape the future of transport, inviting creators, problem-solvers and disruptors from every corner of the country to help improve sustainability, safety and accessibility across Britain’s rail network.
Through Future Labs, the public ownership flagship innovation programme, Britain’s train operators are seeking pioneering solutions to four of rail’s toughest challenges.
DFTO train operators have environmental and sustainability targets, whether that is for their overall carbon emissions, or specific to certain parts of their operations. In stations, we want to meet targets such as the creation of net zero stations.
Severe weather events are occurring more frequently and are already impacting our operations. There is a risk that such events may impact our ability to provide a safe and operational environments for our customers and people in the future.
We also know that energy generation comes from a variety of sources, and not all are renewable (low carbon intensive). As a consumer of electricity, DFTO operators cannot stipulate exactly where our electricity comes from, and the balance of power sources is very weather dependent. Although we may have purchased green energy financially, this does not mean that we are actually consuming green energy (this is a financial arrangement only). Energy production and transmission is based on regional generation and whole network loading, which is managed entirely by National Grid. There are current plans to install battery storage within some stations to store greener energy, either from onsite generation, or from when the local grid is providing low carbon intensity energy.
When it comes to energy resilience, Future Labs is seeking new ways to generate, store and manage clean energy directly on-site. Innovators are encouraged to explore how battery systems, solar power or novel technologies could help stations become self-sufficient, resilient and low carbon, even in the face of disruption.
Train Operating Companies (TOCs) in scope:
•LNER,
•TransPennine Express, Northern Trains,
•Southeastern,
•South Western Railway,
•c2c
•West Midlands Railway
•London Northwestern Railway and
•Greater Anglia.
Objectives of the engagement
The contracting authority wishes to engage with the market to:
•Understand market capability and capacity
•Explore potential delivery models and commercial approaches
•Inform the scope, structure and procurement strategy of any future process
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=1011868762
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £50,000 excluding VAT
- £60,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 May 2026 to 2 May 2027
- 1 year, 2 days
Main procurement category
Services
Additional procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 71314000 - Energy and related services
- 71314200 - Energy-management services
- 71314300 - Energy-efficiency consultancy services
Engagement
Engagement deadline
18 February 2026
Engagement process description
Suppliers interested in participating are invited to respond to this Energy Resilience Challenge Supplier Questionnaire latest by 23:59 on 18/02/2026
All information in terms of contract duration as well as budget will be refined following market engagement. These are currently indicative of the original stage which is most likely akin to a pilot.
Procedure
Special regime
Utilities
Contracting authority
Transpennine Trains Limited
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PXNX-1214-CQYL
Bridgewater House, 58-60 Whitworth Street
Manchester
M1 6LT
United Kingdom
Region: UKD33 - Manchester
Organisation type: Public undertaking (commercial organisation subject to public authority oversight)