Auckland Transport (AT) in New Zealand is in the planning stages for a new rail franchise to operate the Auckland metropolitan rail services which will be tendered in early 2020 and will come into effect in 2021. The consultation for the services was initiated in 2019 and the authority is seeking rail operating market to present and seek feedback on AT's preferred operating model and the commercial framework that will underpin the future rail operating franchise for Auckland.

AT has issued a request for information (RFI) document for the franchise opportunity. The document includes information about AT and the Auckland rail environment in Part One; and Part Two describes AT's preferred operating model, the commercial framework and high-level terms that will underpin the future rail operating franchise.

To participate in the RFI, the interested party should complete the registration application and send it to railfranchise@at.govt.nz. Only the registered parties will have access to the complete RFI document on November 8, 2019.