Rail Replacement Bus Services

Merseyrail is seeking a proven Supplier for the Rail Replacement Bus Services Contract. The Supplier must have an excellent track record in the provision of Rail Replacement Bus Services within the Transport Industry (preferably Rail) which is of a similar size to Merseyrail.

The deadline for expressions of interest is the 17th of August at 12:00 Noon and the deadline for the Selection Questionnaire submissions is the 31st of August at 12:00 Noon.

The aim of this Procurement is to deliver an effective rail replacement bus service during both planned and unplanned disruptive events affecting the normal operation of Merseyrail timetabled rail services.

MEL provides train services to a total of 68 (sixty-eight) stations, increasing to 69 (sixty-nine) with the introduction of Headbolt Lane in 2023, in the Merseyside region and is responsible for the delivery of the services to all of these stations.

The stations consist of a combination of surface stations and sub-surface stations. The surface stations may be staffed by MEL or may be unstaffed. Details of the surface and sub surface and staffed and unstaffed stations will be provided in the Tender Documentation as an Appendix.

MEL's new Train Station, Headbolt Lane which will be located north of the existing Kirkby Station, is due to open in 2023. The Contractor must be aware that they will be responsible in providing services to this location once opened throughout the life of the Contract. The Contractor must provide indicative pricing for Headbolt Lane based on these assumptions:

• Station will be similar in size to our existing station Kirkby and the car park will be similar in size to Birkenhead North.

Merseyrail operates a regular interval timetable and trains are every 15 (fifteen) minutes and 5 (five) minutes in the city centre. The timetable reduces at 19:00 hrs on most lines to every 30 (thirty) minutes. A reduced Sunday service operates. Timetable details will be provided within the Tender Documentation as an Appendix.

The opportunity will be let to provide Rail Replacement Bus services for a duration of 3 years with options to extend for a further 1 x12 months or until the end of the Merseytravel Concession in 2028.