European Traffic Management System (ERTMS) Early Works - Stage 2 (Develop) Support Services

The tender seeks specialist external consultancy support for Stage 2 of the European Traffic Management System (ERTMS) upgrade on High Speed 1. The objective is to resolve key strategic questions and secure consensus on a single, coherent delivery strategy that replaces the obsolete TVM430 signalling system. Consultants will evaluate a range of delivery options, focusing on preferred technical, commercial and funding models, and will produce a comprehensive deliverable package that includes a confirmed technical option, an integrated delivery model, a whole‑life cost estimate, a detailed delivery schedule to entry‑into‑service, and a complete RAID register in the authority’s format. The assessment will consider benefits, costs, deliverability and operational impacts, and will ensure compliance with paragraphs A.6 to A.11 of the latest Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline guidance to enable progression to the next phase.

The engagement, set for a six‑month period with potential extensions for on‑site surveys, requires the consultant to produce a long‑list and short‑list of options across technical, commercial, and funding dimensions, and to deliver a project schedule through to handover to maintenance. All outputs must support unanimous stakeholder agreement on the selected project delivery strategy and enable the HS1 regulatory framework to move forward with the ERTMS implementation. The final solution must comply with ERTMS specifications and HS1 regulatory standards for high‑speed rail signalling.

LSPH’s current TVM430 signalling system is reaching obsolescence, creating increasing operational, safety and resilience risks. Without intervention, system reliability and lifecycle issues are expected to significantly impact network performance from the 2030s. Stage 1 of the upgrade programme—delivered with SYSTRA—produced an Operational Context Document, a Technical Strategy with long- and short-list options, and a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) in WebTAG format. This completed the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) Stage 1: Determine. LSPH and its stakeholders are now progressing to RNEP Stage 2: Develop, requiring specialist external consultancy support throughout 2026. Stage 2 will resolve key strategic questions, including the preferred technology solution for replacing TVM430, the funding approach within the HS1 regulatory and concession framework, the suitability of innovative commercial models, strategic opportunities, and the project delivery and scope choices that minimise whole-life cost. Additional strategic issues may be identified collaboratively during the process. Summary of requirement: Stage 2 has an estimated duration of six months, extending if an option to complete on-site surveys is executed, and aims to evaluate a range of delivery options for introducing ERTMS on High Speed 1. The assessment will include but not be limited to benefits, costs, deliverability, and operational impacts. The objective is to secure full stakeholder agreement on a single, coherent project delivery strategy for ERTMS implementation. To complete Stage 2, the appointed consultant will deliver: • Confirmation of the preferred technical option, commercial delivery model, funding route, and integrated project delivery model. • Long-list and short-list optioneering across technical, commercial, and funding dimensions to determine the integrated delivery model. • A whole-life cost estimate for the integrated delivery model. • A delivery schedule through to entry into service and handover to maintenance. • A comprehensive RAID (Risks, Assumptions, Issues and Dependencies) register in the authority’s format. • All Deliverables from the Deliverables Register (to be provided). • Satisfy paragraphs A.6 to A.11 of the latest Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline guidance to enable progression to the next phase. Required Outcome: All relevant stakeholders support and agree to the implementation of a single, coherent project delivery strategy for ERTMS on High Speed 1.

Contract location: UKI
Communication: https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=105028&TID100110174&B=
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En
Enquiry deadline: 2026-07-23T11:00:00+00:00
Submission address and any special instructions: https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=105028&TID100110174&B=
Tenders may be submitted electronically: allowed
Award decision date (estimated): 2026-10-06T23:59:59+01:00

Lot number: LOT-0000
Lot value (estimated)
500.000,00 GBP excluding VAT
600.000,00 GBP including VAT

Award criteria:

Name	Type	Weighting
Stage 2 - ITT Scored Questions	quality	60%
Stage 2 - ITT Pricing	price	40%