Supply of Bus Rapid Transit (Glider) Vehicles

Glider is the brand name for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which came into operation in 2018 with an innovative mode of travel for Belfast which resulted in significant increases in patronage levels. The introduction of Glider provided a modern, safe, accessible, efficient and high quality public transport service which has encouraged more people to travel by public transport instead of the private car. Glider has helped to support sustainable economic growth and regeneration, and has helped to integrate communities though linking people to jobs, shops, leisure, health and educational services.

There are plans to extend the existing Glider service and introduce new corridors into operation in Belfast. To facilitate the expansion of the Glider network, Translink are intending to establish a framework aimed at delivering a cost effective and agile means to purchase low floor, wheelchair accessible, zero emission, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) articulated vehicles for use on urban operations in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Translink would use this framework to purchase the additional fleet and potentially, in time, replace the existing hybrid electric BRT vehicles. The duration of the framework has not been confirmed but it is anticipated it will be a Single Supplier Framework.

There are a number of key principles underpinning the characteristics of a BRT system such as the Glider:

• a strong brand image that delivers a clear identity for the system

• high quality in all aspects of the system, including the fixed infrastructure, vehicles, operations and customer services

• high standards of reliability with punctual service operation and predictable journey times

• integration with other modes of sustainable transport

• high quality environment for passengers in terms of space, security and on-board information

To that end Translink wishes to invite suitably interested Economic Operators to present their current and future capability and capacity in these areas in Belfast in Quarter 2 2025.

The objectives of this exercise are to:

- understand the views from the Economic Operators that will or may be interested in this procurement opportunity,

- understand the capabilities of Economic Operators to meet Translink’s requirements, and

- provide interested Economic Operators with an opportunity to inform the tender structure and the duration of any awarded Framework Agreement

Translink reserve the right to request further information from respondents in order to short list interested Economic Operators.

Interested Economic Operators should reply in writing to David Lowry at david.lowry@translink.co.uk by 3pm on Thursday 08 May 2025.