Loading page content…
Loading page content…
2 matching contracts · Updated daily · Contracts Finder + Find a Tender Service
Background This preliminary market engagement exercise is being conducted by Transport for London (TfL), through its trading arm Transport Trading Limited (TTL) and in collaboration with Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on the basis described in this notice. There is a shared ambition across TfL and the wider rail industry to move more passengers to digital ticketing in all its forms, to deliver strategic, operational and customer benefits - while ensuring that the retail experience remains inclusive and accessible for those who rely on paper tickets or cash. To enable delivery of these benefits, TfL is seeking to deliver a ticketing solution for the acceptance of barcode tickets in London. Barcode ticketing has been rolled out nationally on rail, further accelerating the adoption of digital retailing and acceptance. Today, 79%* of National Rail tickets are retailed digitally (including barcode, smart card and TfL PAYG). TfL's proposed expansion of barcode ticketing in London aligns with the broader rail industry-led reform of fares, ticketing, and retail. Making fares easier to understand, ticketing simpler and delivering improvements to passenger experience now, ahead of a simpler more unified railway under Great British Railways. Project Description The objective of this market engagement is to investigate the feasibility of bringing barcode ticketing to London, in a number of parts including barcode acceptance and barcode retailing. TfL is seeking to understand the market's capability for designing, developing, testing and deploying a scalable end to end barcode ticketing solution for all identified TfL stations. Lot 1 -Barcode Acceptance Part A - Fixed Barcode Acceptance and Validation A fixed barcode reading solution, which will interface with existing TfL gatelines is required to enable barcode acceptance and validation at TfL stations. The roll-out of Barcode Ticketing in London could ultimately be required at all London Underground and TfL Rail locations, based on forecasted demand in order of this priority: Stations where TOC services call behind TfL Gatelines (e.g. Farringdon and Stratford) Cross-London interchange stations and TfL rail services, including TfL Overground and Elizabeth Line stations. Zone 1-3 London Underground Stations. Remaining London Underground Stations. Part B - Barcode Back Office A back office solution, compliant with RDG barcode standards, which will interface with non-TfL, TOC and rail retailer electronic Ticket Validation Databases (eTVDs) and extendable to incorporate future TfL station barcode retailing. Part C - Portable Barcode Acceptance and Validation A portable barcode reading solution which will provide revenue protection capability for TfL revenue inspectors. This may integrate with existing TfL revenue inspection devices, for example as a software application. Lot 2 - Barcode Retailing A solution to enable retailing and vending of physical (i.e. barcodes printed on physical ticket stock) TfL issued barcode tickets to replace existing TfL issued magnetic tickets as a ticket of last resort. These will be required to support cash and card payments. Anticipated Scope and Requirements Full interoperability with national rail barcode ticketing standards (RDG/RSP). Ability to design, deliver, operate and maintain an integrated solution. To collaborate with the primary System Integrator, responsible for TfL's revenue collection system. The supplier will need to provide equipment to the primary System Integrator, who will carry out front-line installation and maintenance. Fixed readers to integrate with existing gates at TfL stations. To deliver the solution and services at scale in London. To deliver the solution in line with TfL and RDG security standards. Provide L2 and L3 support to the barcode solution (L1 will be the responsibility of the primary System Integrator). TfL to own or have licence rights in perpetuity for the IPR created as part of the solution deployed. Out of Scope At this time, installation of barcode acceptance equipment and retailing of barcode tickets for buses in London is not in scope. Contract dates (estimated) June 2027 to January 2033 Possible extensions up to January 2038 10 years, 7 months.
Value undisclosed
Transport for London (TfL) is undertaking Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) relating to the future delivery of Barcode Ticketing across the TfL network. This engagement aims to gather insight on market capability, delivery approaches, commercial considerations, contracting models, and technical feasibility to help inform TfL's future strategy. TfL is now progressing the Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) for Barcode Ticketing. This notice follows the initial PME notice published on 23 January 2026 and the Supplier Briefing Event held on 4 February 2026. TfL will now be issuing the Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ), which will be available by email request. The MSQ contains no confidential content and is intended to gather supplier insight to inform TfL's early planning. It also provides further information on the MSQ process. In addition, TfL has prepared several technical appendices which contain operationally sensitive information (including architecture options, volumetrics, high level requirements, service model information and relevant ticketing specifications). These appendices will only be shared once a supplier has signed TfL's Confidentiality Agreement / NDA. This PME exercise is voluntary, non binding and does not form part of any formal procurement process. All engagement will be conducted in line with the principles of transparency, fairness, equal treatment and proportionality under the Procurement Act 2023. 1.Introduction This Market Sounding Questionnaire (MSQ) is issued by Transport for London (TfL) and seeks to obtain market feedback to inform TfL's thinking regarding a potential future procurement for Barcode Ticketing in London. Its primary focus is to better understand market interest, capacity and capability, and gather market feedback on risks and opportunities associated with the potential procurement of Barcode Ticketing in London. There is a shared ambition across TfL and the wider rail industry to move more passengers to digital ticketing in all its forms, to deliver strategic, operational and customer benefits - while ensuring that the retail experience remains inclusive and accessible for those who rely on paper tickets or cash. To enable delivery of these benefits, TfL is seeking to deliver a ticketing solution for the acceptance of barcode tickets in London. Barcode ticketing has been rolled out nationally on rail, further accelerating the adoption of digital retailing and acceptance. TfL's proposed expansion of barcode ticketing in London aligns with the broader rail industry led reform of fares, ticketing and retail - making fares easier to understand, ticketing simpler, and delivering improvements to passenger experience now, ahead of a more unified railway under Great British Railways. 2. Feedback Request Feedback is requested in relation to the questions in the MSQ. Your feedback is important as it will allow views from the market to inform the development and finalisation of the procurement strategy. TfL would greatly appreciate your feedback in the form of a response to the instructions mentioned in the MSQ document. The feedback we receive will be reviewed, analysed and taken into account in understanding the market appetite, and subsequent possible procurement activity for Barcode Ticketing in London for TfL. All responses will be treated confidentially. Summary analysis, including general themes and findings may be used as part of participant and market engagement. All responses are provided on a non‑binding basis and will not be used for selection or exclusion at this point. This exercise does not form part of any formal procurement process. All responses will be carefully considered but will not bind TfL to any particular approach to the procurement, nor will responses be treated as conveying any promise or commitment on the part of the respondent. This engagement will be conducted in line with the principles of equal treatment, non‑discrimination and proportionality under the Procurement Act 2023. 3.Proposals for Consideration and Feedback Additional information is available in the appendices to the MSQ. A supplier must describe their capacity and capability to provide Barcode Ticketing in London and any similar products they may have manufactured/supplied previously to customers. Additional information in relation to barcode ticketing, acceptance and retailing would also be beneficial to TfL. The supplier can recommend alternatives to the solutions that are already available on the market, but this must comply with the specification required.
Value undisclosed