UK express logistics operator Varamis Rail is back on the tracks. That’s the triumphal message from the flegling operator’s owner, Phil Read. The company, which runs an exclusively electric-powered service between Birmingham and Scotland, has successfully restructured and is confident of resuming its nightly operations.
In an exclusive interview with RailFreight.com, Varamis Rail confirmed it has pulled through a tough spell of challenges. The operator, which uniquely runs repurposed passenger electric multiple unit trains, said it would recommence its service on Tuesday, 2 September, with a train running in each direction on the West Coast Main Line. The company maintains an ambition to extend its light logistics service into London.
Trains on tracks top priority.
A turbulent spring may turn into a sublime summer for Varamis Rail. The operator has been working hard to resurrect dedicated light logistics and parcels traffic on Britain’s railways. They have announced that it will resume its operation as of 2 September. The company has not released any further details about the nature of the restructuring plan. However, it has refuted several rumours, including operational difficulties, regulatory problems and financial concerns. RailFreight.com reported on the challenges faced by the company late last month.
The founder of the company was emphatic in his resolve. Phil Read told RailFreight.com that Varamis Rail was very much back on track and accepting orders. “Varamis has always been about express logistics, door to door, with a zero-emissions model,” he said. “Getting our trains back on the tracks has been our number one priority. We have been in constant contact with our customer base, because these are the people who have shown faith in the model we have championed since earning our operator’s licence in 2022.”
Extreme sustainability ticks all the green boxes
Varamis has taken that sustainability model to extreme lengths. The trains used by the company are all repurposed passenger stock that otherwise faced an uncertain future. Varamis leases refurbished Class 321 units (four‑car sets) via Eversholt Rail. These were originally suburban passenger trains built between 1988–1991 and converted into parcel‑carrying units capable of 100 mph (160 km/h).
The operator did express an interest in the bespoke class 325 units – a dual-voltage design built for the Royal Mail units. Phil Read was highly critical of the now privatised Royal Mail service’s decision to pull out of rail-operated logistics. Last year, he – and many other voices from the rail industry – expressed anger at the hasty scrapping of the entire 325 fleet. That act was likened to the ‘factory breakers’ of old, who would be employed to destroy redundant machinery lest it be reused by a competitor. The analogy is evident.
Commercial and political interest encouraged
“There are many businesses that see the value of rail-served logistics,” said Phil Read. “The ability of Varamis to move parcels and substantial packages between Birmingham International and a terminal on the outskirts of Glasgow that’s also at a motorway crossroads for Scotland, in four hours, is a commercial advantage that only rail can deliver.”
One aspect of the revival of fortune of which Phil Read has been critical is the cool reception from political quarters. “While individuals have been supportive, we’ve not seen any significant movement towards moving zero-emission logistics up the agenda,” he said. “This is a service that makes perfect sense in the net-zero economy. We’re playing our part, and I urge Westminster [UK government] and Holyrood [the Scottish equivalent] to take note and promote this sector. It can only do good for all their economic ambitions.”