How to win: Chiltern Rail - Train Planning & Rostering System Replacement

About this contract

Chiltern Railways is seeking to procure supplier-hosted software solutions and associated services to replace its existing Train Planning and Rostering systems. The procurement is divided into two Lots: Lot 1 - Train Planning System; and Lot 2 - Rostering System. Lot 1 is for the provision, implementation, hosting, support and maintenance of a Train Planning System. The solution is required to support train planning and diagramming activities, including the creation, import, editing, validation, management and publication of timetables, schedules, rolling stock diagrams and traincrew diagrams. The solution must support planning data management, timetable change management, scenario modelling, auditability, version control, reporting, user permissions and secure data exchange with relevant operational and business systems. Lot 2 is for the provision, implementation, hosting, support and maintenance of a Rostering System. The solution is required to support base, weekly and daily rostering for relevant staff groups, including traincrew, station staff and fleet/engineering staff. The solution must support roster creation, validation, publication and management, allocation of staff to

How to win contracts like this

• ✓Answer against the marking scheme, not the question text — CHILTERN RAIL LIMITED scores each response, so map your evidence to the published criteria and weightings.
• ✓At £6,500,000, expect quality and social value to carry a large share of the score — price alone rarely wins services work.
• ✓Show recent, comparable delivery: name similar services contracts you've delivered for public bodies, with measurable outcomes.
• ✓Start early: it closes 16 October 2026 and a strong bid takes iteration.

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