Pre-Market Engagement: Commercial Filming Services

Tender description

Network Rail currently delivers an end-to-end commercial filming service across a diverse portfolio of railway assets, acting as the primary interface between the rail industry and the screen sector. With the transition to Great British Railways (GBR), Network Rail is exploring future options for delivering these services across a larger estate that will encompass both Network Rail and Train Operating Company assets. Through this market engagement exercise, Network Rail seeks to understand market capability, supplier interest, potential delivery models, opportunities for innovation, and the extent to which external providers could deliver some or all of the service currently carried out in-house. The exercise will help inform future strategy development by assessing market maturity, operational considerations, resource requirements, and the risks and benefits associated with different delivery approaches. Network Rail will be holding supplier engagement sessions in London on 13 and 14 October 2026, providing an opportunity for suppliers to learn more about this forthcoming requirement. Details of how to register can be found in the RFI document, 'Pre-Market Engagement – Commercial Filming Services', which is available under "View Current Opportunities" on the Network Rail eSourcing Portal (Bravo): https://networkrail.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html The engagement sessions will be conducted on a one-to-one basis, with each supplier offered a one-hour time slot. Please note that, should it become necessary to reschedule the market engagement sessions, Network Rail will notify all interested suppliers using the email address provided within their RFI response. Lot 1: The Network Rail Commercial Filming Team currently provides an end-to-end commercial filming service across a portfolio of railway assets, acting as the primary interface between the railway and the screen industry. This will include railway stations (circa 2,000), disused buildings (tunnels), goods yards, depots, office buildings, training centres, car parks, etc. The service includes: • Promotion of railway locations to the screen industries • Management of filming enquiries • Reviewing content, establishing suitability with input from other NR teams, where necessary • Scouting and onboarding other assets to be used as locations • Stakeholder engagement and operational coordination • Commercial negotiation and contracting • Planning shoots in partnership with asset owners, delivering as close to clients’ needs, whilst prioritising the railway • Assessment of filming applications, RAMS and insurance documentation • On-site filming support • Delivery (chaperoning) of filming activity within live operational environments The transition to Great British Railways (GBR) presents an opportunity to review how commercial filming services may be delivered in the future across a significantly larger estate encompassing both Network Rail and Train Operating Company assets. As part of this review, Network Rail wishes to engage with the market to better understand: • Existing capabilities available within the market • Interest in providing commercial filming services to the rail sector • Potential delivery models • Opportunities for innovation • Whether external providers could deliver all or part of the service currently undertaken in-house No decision has been made regarding the future operating model and this exercise is intended solely to inform future strategy development. The purpose of this exercise is to: • Assess the capability and maturity of the commercial filming market • Understand the appetite of suppliers to operate within the rail environment • Explore potential delivery models for a future GBR filming service • Identify opportunities for innovation and improved customer experience • Understand the resources, skills and specialist knowledge required to support commercial filming activity • Assess market views regarding National versus Regional delivery approaches • Gather intelligence to inform the future Commercial Filming strategy and operating model • Identify potential commercial, operational and safety risks associated with alternative delivery models.