Chiltern Railways - Radio Equipment Hire

Descriptions

Chiltern Railways is conducting this Procurement to select a supplier for the provision of Radio Hire Equipment.

This Procurement defines the technical standards for radio equipment deployed across Chiltern Railways operations. It establishes the minimum functional, technical, environmental, and regulatory requirements for handheld equipment used by operational staff, including Route Control personnel, Train Managers, shunters, and station staff.

Reliable and interoperable radio communications are critical to ensuring the safe and efficient movement of trains, effective coordination between front-line teams, and compliance with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) safety standards. These standards apply to all radio systems intended for use within the Chiltern Railways network, including, private mobile radios, and digital radio systems where applicable.

The technical standards set out in this Procurement align with current UK railway regulations, including Ofcom licensing conditions and Network Rail interoperability requirements.

Consideration has also been given to environmental resilience, user ergonomics, future scalability, and integration with legacy and safety-critical systems.

This Procurement supports the procurement, deployment, and maintenance of radio communication systems that are robust, future-ready, and fully aligned with Chiltern Railways' operational and safety objectives.

The contract term is 7 years, 3+2+2 with an estimated value of £700,000 over the 7-year term.

The contracting start date is 1st May 2026.

1st May 2026 to 1st May 2029.

Possible further extension 30th April 2033.