Twice as nice. The fledgling all-electric express logistics operator Varamis Rail has doubled the strength of its dedicated fleet overnight from one to two units. As far as founder and live wire Phil Read is concerned, that’s double the fun and double the capacity to get parcels and packages up and down the country in double quick time. Birmingham and Glasgow are now twice as connected.

The logistics industry is doing a double take. That’s not just one Varamis Rail express hurtling down the West Coast Main Line. There’s another one coming in the other direction. The company, the brainchild of former train driver turned entrepreneur Phil Read, has just hit the rails with not one but two high-speed logistics trains.

Excitement over the expansion

Headquartered within the historic Doncaster Railway Works, Varamis Rail has been making sparks fly with its overnight express logistics service between Birmingham and Glasgow. Now, with two Class 321 Swift EMUs leading the charge, this express logistics pioneer is a step closer to its aim of making rail-borne parcel traffic a common sight once more on the UK network.

“We’re on the fast double track to success”, said Phil Read, the mastermind behind Varamis Rail. The not usually reserved personality, was indeed not reserved about his excitement over the expansion. “Doubling our fleet means we’re not just delivering goods; we’re delivering the dream of zero-emissions logistics, cross-border, up and down England and Scotland.”

Revive the dedicated light logistics train concept

Four cars in length, stripped of all the unnecessary passenger frills and transformed into the spartan superheroes of express logistics. All this to accommodate BRUTEs, the British Rail Universal Trolley Equipment. The unsung heroes of the British railway network used to shatter the silence of every late-night terminus. They’re back, no bigger but bolder, making the Varamis operation a smooth forerunner of things to come. If the BRUTE ever has a fan club, Reid will be member number one.

Varamis Rail has been making waves as the UK’s first high-speed rail logistics company, providing lightning-fast, zero-emission linehaul logistics services. In an era where traditional parcel services almost hit the snooze button in the ’90s, Varamis Rail is leading the charge to revive the dedicated light logistics train concept. Royal Mail isn’t the only one playing the rail game in light logistics anymore.

The service takes under five hours each way between Glasgow and Birmingham. Varamis clearly believes the market has the potential to grow. Customers agree. Varamis have ambitious plans to expand. London and Edinburgh is a route in their sights. Adding the East Coast to the West Coast sounds like a double delight.