Notice

Cross Country rail services: prior information notice

Published 23 December 2022

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

© Crown copyright 2022

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-country-rail-services-prior-information-notice/cross-country-rail-services-prior-information-notice

Contract for Cross Country rail services – currently operated by XC Trains Ltd

T01: Prior information notice for public service contract

Section I: competent authority

I.1 Name and address

Department for Transport
Great Minster House
33 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 4DR
United Kingdom

Email: railprocurement@dft.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKI32 – Westminster

I.2 Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address.

I.3 Type of the competent authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority.

Section II: object

II.1 Scope of the procurement

II.1.1 Title

Contract for Cross Country rail services. Currently operated by XC Trains Ltd

II.1.2 Main CPV  code

60200000 – Railway transport services

II.1.3 Type of contract

Services

Areas covered by the public transport services: rail transport services.

II.2 Description

II.2.2 Additional CPV code(s)

60210000 – public transport services by railways

II.2.3 Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKC
  • UKE
  • UKF
  • UKH
  • UKJ
  • UKK
  • UKG
  • UKD
  • UKL
  • UKM
Main site or place of performance

Cross Country spans parts of England, Scotland and Wales, with its network centered at Birmingham New Street station, it serves both commuters and long-distance passengers. They serve the key cities of:

  • Birmingham
  • Bristol
  • Cambridge
  • Cardiff
  • Edinburgh
  • Leeds
  • Manchester
  • Newcastle
  • Nottingham
  • Oxford
  • Plymouth
  • Reading
  • Sheffield
  • Southampton

II.2.4 Description of the procurement

Contract for provision of commuter, regional and long-distance rail services on the UK conventional mainline rail system. It is envisaged the services will be substantially similar to those currently operated under the XC Trains Limited Rail Contract (dated 13 October 2020), but subject to route operating and value for money (VfM) review. It is envisaged the services would run between:

  • Plymouth — Edinburgh via Leeds, with a limited service to and from Penzance – some services are extended to Glasgow via Motherwell and also to Dundee and Aberdeen
  • Reading — Newcastle via Doncaster
  • Bristol — Manchester
  • Bournemouth — Manchester via Coventry
  • Nottingham — Cardiff via Gloucester
  • Birmingham — Stansted Airport via Leicester and Peterborough
  • Birmingham — Leicester local services

A Direct Award is now envisaged, in line with the policy published in March 2013 issued further to Section 26 of the Railways Act 1993.II.1.4 (nature and quantity of services or indication of needs and requirements).

There is a mixture of leisure, business and commuter travel on these rail services.

II.2.7 Envisaged start date and the duration of the contract

Start date

15 October 2023.

Duration in months

96 months.

The contract will be a core term of 4 years with available additional rail periods up to a maximum of 8 years.

Section IV: procedure

IV.1 Type of procedure

Direct awards for railway transport under Regulation 1370 Article 5(6).

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