CPV 342 – Railway and Tramway Locomotives and Rolling Stock

What does CPV 342 cover?

CPV Group 342 (34200000) classifies public contracts for rail-bound vehicles and rolling stock systems. It encompasses trains and multiple units for regional and long-distance passenger rail, trams and light rail vehicles, metro and suburban rail stock, freight wagons and freight locomotives, as well as specialist maintenance vehicles for track construction and line maintenance. Vehicle components such as bogies, drive systems and interior fittings may also be procured under this code.

Rail vehicles are the most capital-intensive procurement in the public sector. Public transport authorities and operators renew their tram and metro fleets on cycles of 20 to 30 years. Regional rail procurement authorities tender rolling stock for new service contracts, either directly or through vehicle pools. Vehicle procurement is closely linked to maintenance contracts, driver training and infrastructure compatibility requirements.

CPV Group 342 is part of CPV Division 34 (Transport Equipment and Accessories). It is distinct from CPV 341 (motor vehicles) through its focus on rail-bound systems. Rail infrastructure such as tracks, switches and overhead lines is classified under CPV 45 (construction works) or CPV 34900000 (railway accessories).

Further information on the CPV system is available from the European Commission's SIMAP portal and in Regulation (EC) No 213/2008.

Typical Services in CPV 342

• Low-floor trams and light rail vehicles for urban networks
• Electric multiple units (EMU) and diesel multiple units (DMU) for regional rail
• Metro and suburban rail vehicles for city transit authorities
• Double-deck coaches and intercity rolling stock
• Bogies, drive systems and vehicle interior components
• Track maintenance and inspection vehicles

Examples of Tenders with CPV 342

• Tram Fleet Procurement for a Major City: A municipal transport operator tenders the supply of 30 low-floor tram vehicles (approximately 35 m, 100% low-floor) for its light rail network, including options for 20 further vehicles, a 15-year maintenance contract, driver training and a spare-parts inventory – published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily).
• Electric Multiple Units for a Regional Rail Network: A regional passenger rail authority procures 45 dual-voltage electric multiple units with battery range for non-electrified sections, fully accessible under TSI PRM, including a maintenance contract for the full term of the service agreement – advertised on DTVP (German Procurement Portal).
• Maintenance Vehicles for a Light Rail Network: A municipal rail infrastructure operator procures two overhead line assembly and inspection vehicles and one rail-grinding vehicle for routine maintenance of its 80-kilometre network, including staff training and documentation to CENELEC standards.

Current tenders with CPV 342 are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms such as the German Procurement Portal (DTVP).

Who is CPV 342 relevant for?

Public Contracting Authorities

Transport authorities, public transport operators, regional rail procurement bodies and national rail operators are the most significant contracting authorities in the rolling stock segment. The combination of high contract value, long contract periods and technical complexity makes rail vehicle procurement one of the most demanding tendering processes in the public sector. Accessibility requirements under TSI PRM and national disability access legislation apply to all new rolling stock.

Companies and Bidders

Rail vehicle manufacturers and their component suppliers for drive systems, bogies, braking systems, passenger information systems and interior fittings are the key bidder groups. The market is characterised by high barriers to entry, long-term customer relationships and intensive pre-qualification processes. System suppliers may participate as subcontractors or through direct tenders for specific component procurements. Further information is available from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

How does Bond help with CPV 342?

Tender Match – Automatically Find Tenders (CPV 342)

With tender.match, rail vehicle manufacturers and public transport system suppliers automatically receive all relevant tenders with CPV 342 directly in their dashboard. BOND indexes tenders from over 1,000 procurement portals in the EU – from TED to national platforms and regional contracting authorities. Instead of manually searching dozens of portals every day, matching rolling stock contracts are filtered and delivered by industry, competency, region, and company profile. An automated gap analysis immediately shows where the company meets the requirements and where gaps exist. This ensures companies never miss a deadline and can focus on preparing their bids.

Company Match – Find the Right Partners and Suppliers (CPV 342)

For companies looking for suppliers, subcontractors, or consortium partners for rolling stock projects, company.match provides direct access to qualified firms from an EU-wide database of over 28 million companies. Especially for larger public transport vehicle procurements that a single company cannot handle alone, company.match automatically identifies suitable partners for bidding consortia and partial services – increasing the chances of winning the contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about CPV 342

What does the CPV code 34200000 mean?

CPV code 34200000 designates the group "Railway and Tramway Locomotives and Rolling Stock" within CPV Division 34. It covers all rail-bound vehicle acquisitions by public bodies – from trams and metro trains through regional rail multiple units to freight locomotives and specialist maintenance vehicles.

How do I find tenders with CPV 342?

Tenders with CPV 342 can be searched using the CPV filter on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily). At national level, the German Procurement Portal (DTVP) lists current procurements. BOND aggregates tenders from over 1,000 portals and delivers matching opportunities directly to your company dashboard.

What are the requirements for participating in tenders with CPV 342?

Rail vehicles operating on the European rail network must comply with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI), including TSI Rolling Stock, TSI Control and Command, and TSI Accessibility (TSI PRM). Trams and metro vehicles are subject to national standards and municipal requirements. Long-term maintenance concepts and references from comparable public transport procurements are standard requirements. Details are governed by VgV and UVgO depending on the contract value.