Network Rail begins process to replace rail infrastructure monitoring trains

Network Rail has begun the process for a £1.2 billion replacement of its rail infrastructure monitoring service.

In a preliminary market engagement notice, NR said it was well recognised that its distinctive ‘yellow fleet’ was “outdated, unpredictable, and ready for retirement”.

The new contract is estimated to run from February 26 2027 until February 25 2035, with a possible extension to February 25 2043, meaning a potential 16-year arrangement. It has an estimated value of £1.2bn excluding VAT.

In the notice, Network Rail said it wanted to “procure a comprehensive service that will replace the existing methods of collection, manage operations, and deliver the necessary output data”.

It went on: “Network Rail is agnostic to the method of data collection and believes that, over time, this could evolve into a hybrid approach combining both train and non-train borne collection methods. We are particularly interested in understanding new and innovative non-train borne methods for monitoring railway infrastructure, both now and in the future.”

Railroad vehicles, drones, robots and satellites are all listed as potential options, with NR adding: “Innovation must be at the forefront of any solution we adopt as we aim to transform the way we collect and use data for infrastructure monitoring.”

The engagement deadline is June 16, while more details providing the exact scope of the procurement were due to be provided to interested parties in mid-May.

A Network Rail spokesperson added: “We have recently started preliminary market engagement to explore new and innovative rail infrastructure monitoring technology as we look to replace equipment that has served the railway well but is ageing and becoming increasingly outdated.

“Though it is very early days, we hope the industry will be able to provide innovative ideas that will enable us to maintain and build on our performance as one of the safest major rail networks in Europe.”