Poland’s Ministry of Infrastructure has appointed the Centre for EU Transport Projects to prepare market consultations for a future tender to operate state-organised long-distance passenger rail services.
CEUTP plans to launch the preliminary market consultations in the coming weeks. The process will test market interest and operational capacity among railway undertakings that could bid to run the services under future public-service contracts.
The consultation phase will collect technical data and other input from passenger rail operators before the tender documents are prepared. CEUTP will also hold consultation and workshop meetings with market participants.
The future procurement may be divided into route packages. CEUTP’s final report will give the Ministry of Infrastructure recommendations on the proposed division of railway lines, key contract provisions, participation conditions and bid evaluation criteria.
The consultations will be carried out under Article 84 of Poland’s Public Procurement Law. This procedure takes place before the formal procurement starts and is not a contract award procedure or negotiations with selected operators.
The consultation launch follows a market analysis carried out before the process. CEUTP said the findings will be used to align the future tender with the organiser’s requirements and the operational capabilities of companies interested in providing the services.
