Bakerloo Line Upgrade (BLU) – Depot and Line-wide Infrastructure Upgrade Works

The Bakerloo Line runs through London from Harrow & Wealdstone, in the North, to Elephant & Castle in the centre with plans to extend South as part of the Bakerloo Line Extension initiative. The Bakerloo line fleet (72 Tube Stock) is now the oldest rolling stock operating in the UK with considerable costs to life-extend the fleet and significant risks to reduction in reliability. The ongoing operating costs are a concern and upgrading the rolling stock requires considerable depot and lineside infrastructure improvements to facilitate the introduction. This notice looks to address the associated infrastructure works required to improve whole life maintenance costs and service reliability for the line.

TfL intends to introduce the new rolling stock onto the Bakerloo line by, circa 2030. The introduction of new rolling stock would require a significant modification or upgrading of the line’s infrastructure to support the new fleet, by 2028.

TfL wishes to engage the market to establish appetite and seek feedback on emerging approaches or alternative/innovative delivery methodologies for the proposed depot upgrade and line wide infrastructure works that would enable the fleet introduction.

A high-level summary of assets within the scope of this works is provided below:

The scope of this market engagement aligns with the early stage of the current programme lifecycle, acknowledging that the delivery and contracting methodologies are not yet confirmed while we look to develop the strategy using this exercise to test and mature our way of thinking. The programme will be using this market engagement to inform our strategy which currently preferences an early contractor involvement approach.

The contractors’ experience of delivery and options on building sequence could significantly influence the concept design as well as the detailed design. TfL have a drive to improve construction efficiencies to reduce cost and look at innovative techniques to reduce carbon to meet the net zero gain, with improved whole life costs.

It is assumed that the breadth of disciplines will likely need joint contractor support or specialist subcontractor involvement at the contract stage. Therefore, joint or individual supplier engagement is considered at this stage.

Respondents to this notice will receive a Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) for completion and will be invited to an Industry Day around end-April to learn more about BLU Programme. If you are interested, please respond by COB Tuesday 9 April 2024.

This is a pre-procurement activity and does not imply any commitment to any future procurement process at this time. The purpose is to seek feedback on TfL’s approach, appetite from industry and information on alternative solutions that are being developed in the marketplace for similar schemes. Participation in the PIN and subsequent MSQ is not a prerequisite to, and will not prejudice, participation in any future competitive process. The information contained in this PIN or in any communication made between TfL and any supplier in connection with this should not be relied upon as constituting a contract, agreement, or representation that any contract will be offered as a result of this PIN and MSQ. If TfL decides to progress with any procurement exercise for BLU, TfL will publish a separate contract notice.