AwardedAwarded 1 April 2026

Train Planning Software and Implementation Services

Northern Trains Limited · Central government

In brief

Northern Trains Limited awarded IT and software work to Worldline IT Services UK Limited on 1 April 2026.

The notice gives a value of £22,000,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 6 years, up to 11 years with extensions, starting 20 March 2026.

It is split into 3 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

Northern Trains Limited (NTL) is procuring the supply, implementation and support of a Train Planning (Timetabling and Diagramming) software solution. The solution will be used by NTL's Service Planning function to support the development and delivery of operational plans, including: Planning and development of timetables for submission to Network Rail, in line with industry planning cycles and coordination with other operators. Creation of crew diagrams to maximise coverage of timetabled services using available resources. Creation of unit diagrams to allocate rolling stock types to services within the NTL fleet (excluding allocation of specific units). The scope includes the implementation of the solution, associated configuration, data migration, integration, testing, training, and support services. The successful supplier will be required to: Deliver a fully operational production system by March 2027. Support a period of parallel running prior to go-live. Deliver system and operational cutover with no material impact on business-as-usual activities within the NTL Service Planning function.

Lots

LotTradeValue
Train Planning Software - Single Platform
20 March 2026 to 19 March 2032
What this lot covers

NTL is seeking to procure a single solution that will be used by the Service Planning department to deliver the following capabilities: •Planning and development of timetables for submission to Network Rail. Timetables are submitted to Network Rail on a six-month rotation and must consider the requirements of customers along with the timetables being developed in parallel by other operators. •Creation of Crew Diagrams to provide maximum coverage of timetabled services using available resource. •Creation of Unit Diagrams describing the allocation of unit types to services from within the NTL unit asset catalogue. This does not include the allocation of specific units. The successful supplier will be required to implement the solution in line with the following: •Full production implementation of a system by March 2027, with a period of parallel running completed prior. •A system and operational cutover before or during March 2027, with no material impact on the BAU activities and capabilities of the NTL Service Planning department.

IT services and software£11,000,000
Train Planning Software - (Timetabling)
20 March 2026 to 19 March 2032
What this lot covers

NTL is seeking to procure a software solution that will be used by the Service Planning department to deliver the following capabilities: •Planning and development of timetables for submission to Network Rail. Timetables are submitted to Network Rail on a six-month rotation and must consider the requirements of customers along with the timetables being developed in parallel by other operators. The successful supplier will be required to implement this solution and ensure seamless integration with the successful supplier of Lot 3 in line with the following: •Full production implementation of a system by March 2027, with a period of parallel running completed prior. •A system and operational cutover before or during March 2027, with no material impact on the BAU activities and capabilities of the NTL Service Planning department.

IT services and software£5,500,000
Train Planning Software - (Crew Unit & Diagramming)
20 March 2026 to 19 March 2032
What this lot covers

NTL is seeking to procure a software solution that will be used by the Service Planning department to deliver the following capabilities: •Creation of Crew Diagrams to provide maximum coverage of timetabled services using available resource. •Creation of Unit Diagrams describing the allocation of unit types to services from within the NTL unit asset catalogue. This does not include the allocation of specific units. The successful supplier will be required to implement this solution and ensure seamless integration with the successful supplier of Lot 2 in line with the following: •Full production implementation of a system by March 2027, with a period of parallel running completed prior. •A system and operational cutover before or during March 2027, with no material impact on the BAU activities and capabilities of the NTL Service Planning department.

IT services and software£5,500,000

Who won

WinnerLotValueDates
Not statedTrain Planning Software - (Timetabling), Train Planning Software - (Crew Unit & Diagramming)—
Worldline IT Services UK Limited
10 bids received
Train Planning Software - Single Platform£4,729,595
Awarded 1 April 2026

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Tender notice · UK4, notice 061910-2025
  2. Contract award notice · UK6, notice 031735-2026

About the buyer

Procurements

75

Awards

33

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From notice 061910-2025 on Find a Tender, first published 2 October 2025, last updated 8 April 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.