Provision of a Bearing Monitoring Service for the Class 170 Fleet, Class 334 Fleet & Class 320 Fleet

Description

This involves the variation to an existing contract which was procured whilst ScotRail was under the Abellio franchise ownership. The incumbent supplier (Hitachi Rail Limited) provided bearing monitoring equipment for selected ScotRail fleet (Cl170, Cl334, Cl320). The supplier still currently provides the associated monitoring services relating to the equipment.
A 36-month extension is being awarded to Hitachi Rail for this same scope of services. The equipment offers a wireless, maintenance-free means of monitoring assets in service, allowing performance issues to be identified months in advance and optimisation of asset life. By harvesting vibration energy from the train, sensors can be powered remotely. Only Hitachi Rail can perform the contract with the current equipment fitted as a result of Hitachi owning the IP rights to the software.
The proposed extension is necessary for safety critical reasons, the equipment is essential for tracking the health of rolling stock components and provides real-time data that aids in preventative maintenance. Its presence on fleets enables early detection of issues, reduces the risk of unplanned downtime, and contributes to asset longevity.