Additional Rolling Stock for TransPennine Express (TPE)

Descriptions

TransPennine Express ("TPE") is the Delivery Partner to the Department for Transport, Rail North Partnership and Network Rail in delivery of the Transpennine Route Upgrade Programme ("TRU Programme"). The TRU Programme is aligned to the government's priorities for transport which are to:•Build confidence in the transport network and improve transport user's experience, ensuring that the network is safe, reliable, and inclusive;•Improve connectivity and grow the economy by enhancing the transport network, on time and on budget; and•Tackle climate change and improve air quality by decarbonising transport.The objectives for the TRU Programme are to:•Improve rail users' experience by providing more frequent, more reliable, faster and less crowded trains;•Improve connectivity to level up and grow the North;•Attract new users to rail both passenger and freight; and•"Green" the railway to contribute to decarbonisation and other environmental benefits.These benefits will be enabled by a range of infrastructure investments including:•electrification of the route between Manchester and York;•significant network enhancements to provide capacity and reliability (most notably those covered in the Transport and Works Act Order published by Network Rail in March 2021); •conversion of the route to Digital Signalling; and •further interventions to support the wider outcomes anticipated in the Department for Transport's Integrated Rail Plan. If the benefits of a more frequent, high performing service are to be fully realised the industry will need to move away from the current focus on diesel operations across the Pennines with rail services using electric traction and digital signalling.In its role as Delivery Partner, TPE will lead the rolling stock market engagement to develop solutions which support continuity of service capacity during the delivery of the infrastructure works and meet the overarching requirements of the TRU Programme for the TPE business. Our focus will be how to best realise the benefits being sought by providing a rolling stock solution which is an integral and optimised component for the whole route upgrade.TPE will be working closely with the Department for Transport, Rail North Partnership and Network Rail to develop an industry business case for the preferred rolling stock solution for the Programme.TPE is seeking expressions of interest from suppliers for the provision of additional rolling stock fleet. A range of options and potential lots are currently being considered and high-level details of these are set out below. More detailed requirements will be provided in later procurement stages. The additional trains must be:•fully compatible with the existing infrastructure and with the TRU Programme improvements; and •gauge cleared for operation along the route and any diversionary routes identified to provide uninterrupted services during the engineering works. Suppliers will be required to clearly identify and provide detailed information about any enabling investments beyond the anticipated scope of TRU Programme that will be required to enable introduction of all rolling stock solutions proposed (e.g. shore supply).Any proposed solutions should be modular and flexible to increase train length from 5-car to either 6-car or 7-car, but noting maximum train platform lengths along the route and train stabling road locations of no more than 200m. Options for longer or alternative formations will be considered provided they remain within the 200m limit.Please refer to the document found under "Attachments" accessed via the provided Link to view the Fleet Options 1, 2 & 3. http://redirect.transaxions.com/events/CSjva