Home News Features Compliance

đź•’ Article read time: 2 minutes

New rail freight operator on track to deliver zero-emissions service


Despite the electrification of more than 70% of all passenger train operator rolling stock in the UK, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the vast majority of Britain’s freight trains remain powered by diesel.

NEW OPERATOR BUCKS THE TREND

However, one freight operator – Varamis Rail – is bucking the trend. In response to the rising demand for next-day deliveries of goods bought online, Varamis has worked with Eversholt Rail to convert fully electric four-car trains, formerly used in passenger service, to carry freight. Each four-car train has the same capacity as four single deck HGVs. The operator also worked closely with the ORR and Network Rail, who between them provided the necessary operating licences, contracts, and train paths for the service to operate.

FIRST ZERO CARBON RAIL FREIGHT SERVICE

Earlier this year (9 January 2023), Varamis launched the UK’s first zero carbon end-to-end rail freight service, running between Scotland and the Midlands, Monday to Friday. Targeted at the express parcel market, retailers and third-party delivery companies, it will primarily deal with next day delivery of consumer goods.

THE NEED FOR SPEED

Trial operations took place in October 2022, to enable logistics companies to test the service and ensure that it was robust. Speed is another benefit of the new service which makes it particularly appealing to the express parcel and next-day delivery markets, with trains that can reach 100mph. Journeys between Mossend freight terminal, near Glasgow, and Birmingham International are scheduled to take just under four and a half hours. Diesel freight train services, by contrast, average a speed of just 24mph.

A SUSTAINABLE SERVICE

“As the UK’s newest train operator, Varamis Rail is keen to promote the sustainable benefits that the railway has to offer to the UK economy along with Network Rail,” said Phil Read, Managing Director, Varamis Rail, “The increase in online shopping and home deliveries over recent years has accelerated the demand to find a more environmentally friendly solution to moving our parcels, products, or light goods around the UK. One solution is the electrified rail network.

“Varamis Rail is incredibly appreciative of the support it has received from the ORR and Network Rail to enable a start-up of its operations and we look forward to building on this relationship as the rail industry looks to play its part in decarbonising the UK.”

Ellis Shelton, Policy Advisor – Multimodal, Logistics UK: “Encouraging a greater volume of the UK’s freight to travel by rail has long been recognised as a key strategy for decarbonising logistics. The launch of this all-electric high-speed freight service between Scotland and the Midlands is a fantastic example of innovative and collaborative working between a private operator and public bodies and will help the sector play its part in reaching the government’s 2050 net zero target.”

*www.logistics.org.uk/rail

Published On: 23/02/2023 16:00:13

 

Comments Section

If you are a Logistics UK member login to add comments.

There are no comments yet.



Latest articles

Incoming Transport Minister Heidi Alexander must prioritise logistics to support growth, says Logistics UK CEO

Following the resignation of Transport Secretary Louise Haigh MP, Logistics UK, one of the UK’s biggest business groups and the only organisation which represents all of logistics, says the incoming Secretary of State, Heidi Alexander MP, must seize the opportunity to drive Labour’s growth mission by prioritising logistics and acknowledging its foundational role in the economy.

Read time: 2 minutes

View article

Out and About & In the Mix

A snapshot of where the Logistics UK policy team have been and who they've seen in the past week.

Read time: 2 minutes

View article

Flying Scotsmen?

Transport Scotland’s National Speed Management Review Consultation could see the speed limit for HGVs on single track roads raised to 50 mph.

Read time: 2 minutes

View article

E-news archive

You can also view our e-news archive here.

E-news archive

Interested in Membership?

Get in contact using the Membership Enquiry Form.

Membership Enquiry Form

Logistics Magazine Portal

The hub for finding relevant and informative features, news & compliance guides from Logistics Magazine

Logistics Magazine Portal Home

Sponsorship Opportunities

Learn more about advertising on the new digital Logistics Magazine, with a variety of advert options to reach 30,000 relevant readers.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Magazine Contents

News

Logistics Magazine will cover all the latest news on stories breaking in the industry, including developments on COVID-19,  Brexit, Clean Air Zones, transport law and decarbonisation.

News

Features

Our frequent features will tackle the broader issues affecting logistics such as the COVID-19 vaccination programme, technology and innovation, the political and economic landscape, global trade and the drive to reduce emissions across all transport modes.

Features

Compliance

Each month we explore a different topic in depth in our popular Compliance section, while each week we will publish answers put to our Member Advice Centre team.

Compliance

View Supplements and Previous Printed Editions

View Supplements and previous printed editions of Logistics Magazine here.

Previous