ScotRail fleet replacement

This requires legal advice services to support an efficient and compliant procurement competition that provides trains to meet our customer, technical, and operational requirements whilst minimising the impact on the environment from their construction. As part of the need to give the taxpayer value for money, it specifies that this must include the economic and societal benefits for local communities and businesses.

The notice specifies that the train supplier must also submit options for maintenance, including a technical services agreement as well as a technical support and spares supply agreement with the decision on which provides best overall value for money being taken prior to contract award.

It states that ScotRail plans to replace 65% of its train fleet, around 675 vehicles, between the period 2027-2035 as by this time the operation of these trains will become increasingly costly. There is also the requirement to replace all existing diesel trains with new trains powered by overhead electrification, batteries, or hydrogen as part of the Scottish Government’s plan to decarbonise its passenger trains by 2035. This procurement programme also offers a further opportunity to reduce costs significantly by reducing the number of types of trains. ScotRail currently has eleven different sub fleets.

The notice also advises that the new train fleet procurement will be done in three stages:

Phase 1 in 2022-23 for a new fleet of suburban trains entering service between 2027 and 2030 to connect local communities with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Dundee, and Aberdeen. These will be suburban electric and battery electric multiple units. It is envisaged that this will consist of around 120 units comprising of 550 vehicles.

Phase 2 is likely to be in 2024-25 for a new fleet of trains for rural routes which will be battery or hydrogen vehicles.

Phase 3 is likely to be in 2025-26 for a new fleet of intercity trains to connect Scotland’s central belt with Aberdeen and Inverness to replace the current diesel HST fleet.

The deadline for a request to participate in this tender was the 2 September 2022 and the contract award is expected to be announced soon.