Railway transport services

Tender description

Welsh Government has conducted a single procurement to appoint an Operator and Development Partner (ODP) to undertake the following functions: (a) the operation of the Wales and Borders rail franchise; (b) the design and management of the development and implementation of capital works to deliver a Metro style service on the Core Valleys Lines and subsequent infrastructure management of the Core Valleys Lines; (c) the operation of rail and related aspects of the South Wales Metro service; (d) the design and development of further schemes to improve rail travel in Wales and Borders. Welsh Government has conducted a single procurement to appoint an operator and development partner to undertake the following functions: (a) the operation of the Wales and Borders rail franchise; (b) the design and the management of the development and implementation of capital works to deliver a Metro style service on the Core Valleys Lines in the South Wales Valleys and subsequent infrastructure management of the Core Valleys Lines; (c) the operation of rail and related aspects of the South Wales Metro service; (d) the design and development of further schemes to improve rail travel in Wales and Borders. The geographic scope of the franchise is similar to that of the Wales and Borders rail franchise operated by Arriva Trains Wales http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/ until October 2018. This broadly aligns with the Welsh border but also includes a number of cross border services including some England-only services in the vicinity of the border. The South Wales Metro comprises a programme of service and infrastructure interventions to provide faster and more frequent rail services, some electrified, in the wider Cardiff Capital Region (including the Core Valleys Lines). A wider programme will promote integrated transport across the area. Further information is available from http://gov.wales/topics/transport/public/metro/?land=en The Welsh Government developed the delivery model and procurement options during the course of dialogue as set out in the tender documents. The successful contractor may carry out up to 15 percent by value of the envisaged infrastructure works. A separate procurement has taken place to establish a framework of suitably qualified contractors to carry out the remainder of the infrastructure works.