Varamis Rail has signed an agreement to lease a Class 321 Swift Express freight train from Eversholt Rail.
This will be used to deliver light goods across the UK at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, with Varamis running services 5 nights a week from Birmingham to Scotland for a major parcel carrier.
“We're delighted to be working in partnership with Varamis. We share a vision to decarbonise the transportation of goods, encouraging modal shift from road to rail whilst contributing towards the UK Government’s ambition to decarbonise the rail sector by 2050.”
The Class 321 Swift Express freight train is an all-electric ex-passenger train repurposed by Eversholt Rail (unit 321334).
“The team at Varamis is delighted to take delivery of the Class 321 Swift Express. As a new TOC entrant I would like to thank Eversholt Rail in supporting Varamis to become the UK's newest and greenest train operator.”
The ROSCO has committed to converting a further four vehicles by the end of the year. This work will be undertaken by Gemini Rail Services.
Lease agreements are expected to be signed for these new trains in the upcoming months.
Focusing on green transport, this summer Eversholt Rail announced that it’s also collaborating with Vivarail on integrating battery technology into the Class 321 fleet to create battery electric multiple units (BEMU) with 20 to 30 miles of self-propulsion.
