Varamis Rail Given Operators Licence from ORR

[Class 170101]

Notably, Varamis are not proposing to ru services in those areas…

There have been a lot of announcements of Varamis acquiring new units recently - how many do they have now?

Also, what are there routes at this point? obviously there is:
- Mossend/Glasgow - Birmingham International
- London Liverpool Street - ???
- Birmingham International - Willesden PRDC
- Any others?

Well they might be going to Norfolk actually (see link to map below)

https://twitter.com/Clinnick1/status/1767888736019235285/photo/1

Photo link above shows services Kings Cross / Liverpool Street to Kings Lynn and Liverpool Street to Norwich.

 

[Phillipimo]

On 13th March 2024, Varamis Rail held a showcase event at London Liverpool Street station. Converted units 321428 & 321429 were on display, along with a number of "green" vehicles for forwarding goods and parcels from the train to their destination.

Speeches were made by Phil Read (Varamis Rail), Lord Hendy (Network Rail), Scott Wilding (Transport for London) and Steve Evans (XeroE).

 

[D365]

In most circumstances, however, if the OLE is out of volts you need something to rescue you. Provided Varamis is successful and builds trust then maybe new build units with a "get you home" powerpack under one car might be a solution. They have certainly helped LNER out of some holes with class 801s. I recall an OLE incident at Wakefield Westgate where the 801 had to continue to Leeds using it's single GU. It didn't lose any time either.

Are ’Thunderbird’ locomotives with Tightlock coupling adaptors available on the WCML?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Are ’Thunderbird’ locomotives with Tightlock coupling adaptors available on the WCML?

This post made me try to research what loco is called a Thunderbird, turns out that seems to be a nickname for any rescue train.
With LSL at Crewe I'd expect something can probably be found in an emergency.

 

[james_the_xv]

With LSL at Crewe I'd expect something can probably be found in an emergency.

Are ’Thunderbird’ locomotives with Tightlock coupling adaptors available on the WCML?

LSL would be under no obligation to provide a loco / crew for thunderbirding duties.

If a unit failed and could not be rectified by the driver/fitter then it could cause many issues depending on location. Would probably be worth Varamis paying for a Tightlock/Dellner barrier wagon to be stabled at Rugby & Preston/Carlisle, or even LSL to keep a compatible loco on standby. Will it happen? No, and Varamis will suffer the consequences when a train fails (for example) up shap and causes chaos.

 

[John R]

Varamis has reported on X that the 7th 321 (440) has entered its fleet. (Link to X post that reports this, along with a picture of it at Northampton.)

x.com

twitter.com

 

[357]

LSL would be under no obligation to provide a loco / crew for thunderbirding duties.

If a unit failed and could not be rectified by the driver/fitter then it could cause many issues depending on location. Would probably be worth Varamis paying for a Tightlock/Dellner barrier wagon to be stabled at Rugby & Preston/Carlisle, or even LSL to keep a compatible loco on standby. Will it happen? No, and Varamis will suffer the consequences when a train fails (for example) up shap and causes chaos.

I drive trains that run on routes with nothing nearby than can rescue us without an adapter. As a result, we have an adapter on all of our trains.

Problem solved.

Also worth noting that when operating a 321 in multiple one unit can in effect rescue the other.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Are ’Thunderbird’ locomotives with Tightlock coupling adaptors available on the WCML?

ROG have supplied class 37s to "sweep up" failed and dewired class 323s on the Birmingham cross city route, which are tightlock fitted. So the answer is sort of yes.

 

[Class 170101]

Also worth noting that when operating a 321 in multiple one unit can in effect rescue the other.

In theory though not always the case

 

[172007]

Varamis has reported on X that the 7th 321 (440) has entered its fleet. (Link to X post that reports this, along with a picture of it at Northampton.)

x.com

twitter.com

They now have 8 as per their X Feed. 321 339.

 

[Carlisle]

I drive trains that run on routes with nothing nearby than can rescue us without an adapter. As a result, we have an adapter on all of our trains.

Problem solved.

Also worth noting that when operating a 321 in multiple one unit can in effect rescue the other.

Voyagers always had those adapters behind the cab but how often were they actually used ? They always seemed to find another Voyager if rescue was needed.

 

[357]

Voyagers always had those adapters behind the cab but how often were they actually used ? They always seemed to find another Voyager if rescue was needed.

Who said I drive Voyagers?

I've known them used on both stocks I sign during loco rescue.

 

[LUYMun]

Varamis’ new route between Birmingham and Carlisle has now been established, with orders being taken for this service.

x.com

twitter.com

#Varamis #Rail Now Connects #Birmingham, #Glasgow & #Carlisle! (+ soon #London). Please share Birmingham Departure: 23:50 Carlisle Arrival: 03:00 Quickly and #sustainably. Looking for a more eco-friendly way to move your freight? #carlislehub #cumbriamfg #carlislebusiness

Varamis has also given notice of an upcoming overnight trial run between Birmingham and London Liverpool Street on 20th May.

x.com

twitter.com

#London Businesses Sustainable Deliveries! #Trials are for 2 weeks. 20th May Please share to spread the green word and fill the trains.
@CadburyUK #UoBham #BirminghamManufacturing #BrumBusinesses #sustainabledelivery #ecofriendlylogistics #zerocarbonlogistics #reliabletransport

 

[Adrian1980uk]

Hopefully both are successful

 

[Brush 4]

It is a great piece of innovative thinking. Bringing parcels traffic back to rail and saving perfectly good rolling stock that would otherwise have been scrapped, as so much has been in the last few years. A win-win. I hope they continue to expand and cover the main line network eventually.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Varamis’ new route between Birmingham and Carlisle has now been established, with orders being taken for this service.

x.com

twitter.com

Varamis has also given notice of an upcoming overnight trial run between Birmingham and London Liverpool Street on 20th May.

x.com

twitter.com

Not seeing any paths on RealTimeTrains ?

 

[LUYMun]

The Birmingham International-Carlisle (continuing to Mossend) route is up on RTT though: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C10196/2024-05-14/detailed

 

[Class15]

The Birmingham International-Carlisle (continuing to Mossend) route is up on RTT though: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C10196/2024-05-14/detailed

That’s just the same path as before i think. So it’s not a Birmingham Carlisle route, just an extra stop in Carlisle.

The Birmingham International-Carlisle (continuing to Mossend) route is up on RTT though: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C10196/2024-05-14/detailed

Plus it doesn’t actually appear to call at Carlisle…!

 

[Freightmaster]

Plus it doesn’t actually appear to call at Carlisle…!

no problem - they can just hang a bag of parcels outside the train like the TPOs used to do back in the day:

Mail pick-up/drop-off on the move

I know that back in the days of steam the West Coast Mainline (London to Glasgow) had the mail system where mail bags could be picked up or dropped off at speed. Were there any other lines that had the same facility?

www.railforums.co.uk

MARK

 

[jagardner1984]

I’d be interested in knowing a little more of how this works. Are Varamis services DOO ? Presumably there isn’t enough traffic to justify having ground staff at Carlisle to handle what is presumably a current small amount of freight on one train at 3am ? So are there loading staff on board ? And where does the stuff go on arrival, since presumably Network Rail doesn’t want everyone pitching up with their transit van on the double yellows at 3am, but also needing pallets etc well clear prior to first passenger service. I wonder if in time Varamis will partner a local handling company in each place to provide the drop off / collection facilities.

Good on them for (presumably) coming up with solutions to all of the above problems. One might have thought if there was any sincerity to the “freight off our roads” aims of Daft, that some directed subsidy to operators such as varamis, combined with a strategy to push through the mods of end of use passenger stock, would be a comparatively low cost way of achieving it and fast way of garnering some positive PR.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

but also needing pallets etc well clear prior to first passenger service

I would imagine if they can get pallets and stuff onto the train at Birmingham International during passenger service, surely this wouldn't be too much of a problem?

Not too sure how Carlisle operates but there appears to be a road bridge from Platforms 1, 2 and 3 to the main road, although it has a 24T limit and only 1 vehicle at a time.
The next passenger train into P1/2/3 is the Highland Sleeper (drop off only) at 05:07, 2 hours after they'd arrive.

 

[Meerkat]

I would imagine if they can get pallets and stuff onto the train at Birmingham International during passenger service, surely this wouldn't be too much of a problem?

Not too sure how Carlisle operates but there appears to be a road bridge from Platforms 1, 2 and 3 to the main road, although it has a 24T limit and only 1 vehicle at a time.
The next passenger train into P1/2/3 is the Highland Sleeper (drop off only) at 05:07, 2 hours after they'd arrive.

Isnt the model using roller cages and tail lift 7.5 tonners?
Be like the old days with platforms covered in BRUTES!

 

[Skimpot flyer]

When they had the presentation at Liverpool Street, there was a demonstration of how one of the roll cages slotted into an E-cargo bike, the wheels of the cage lifted clear of the floor by the vehicle’s hydraulics, and off it went to deliver locally

 

[Wyrleybart]

I’d be interested in knowing a little more of how this works. Are Varamis services DOO ? Presumably there isn’t enough traffic to justify having ground staff at Carlisle to handle what is presumably a current small amount of freight on one train at 3am ? So are there loading staff on board ? And where does the stuff go on arrival, since presumably Network Rail doesn’t want everyone pitching up with their transit van on the double yellows at 3am, but also needing pallets etc well clear prior to first passenger service. I wonder if in time Varamis will partner a local handling company in each place to provide the drop off / collection facilities.

Good on them for (presumably) coming up with solutions to all of the above problems. One might have thought if there was any sincerity to the “freight off our roads” aims of Daft, that some directed subsidy to operators such as varamis, combined with a strategy to push through the mods of end of use passenger stock, would be a comparatively low cost way of achieving it and fast way of garnering some positive PR.

AIUI Varamis is headed up by qualified train driver Phil Read, so we know for sure the train interfacing to platforms will have been thought through. I imagine the business model is DOO but there may well on board staff and trainees getting the feel of the operation and maybe opening and closing doors if needed.

I am impressed that Varamis seems to be picking up business that ROG were dreaming of.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

I think the plan is to have staff on board, sorting?

 

[WessexEclectic]

no problem - they can just hang a bag of parcels outside the train like the TPOs used to do back in the day:

"Two bridges and 45 beats...." IYKYK...

 

[zwk500]

"Two bridges and 45 beats...." IYKYK...

Bringing the Cheque and the Postal Order?

 

[Elecman]

Bringing the Cheque and the Postal Order?

Yup

 

[leomartin125]

AIUI Varamis is headed up by qualified train driver Phil Read, so we know for sure the train interfacing to platforms will have been thought through. I imagine the business model is DOO but there may well on board staff and trainees getting the feel of the operation and maybe opening and closing doors if needed.

I am impressed that Varamis seems to be picking up business that ROG were dreaming of.

Would I be right in thinking that the Rail Operations Group 'Orion' project has been formally shut down now then? The last time I saw the units (319/768) they were being moved from Crewe South Yard to Castle Donnington, and I haven't seen them since. Any idea what happened to these units?

Not seeing any paths on RealTimeTrains ?

Realtime Trains | Departures from London Liverpool Street all day on 21/05/2024

Train information at London Liverpool Street all day on 21/05/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Paths are now on Realtimetrains for this overnight working to Liverpool Street.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Would I be right in thinking that the Rail Operations Group 'Orion' project has been formally shut down now then? The last time I saw the units (319/768) they were being moved from Crewe South Yard to Castle Donnington, and I haven't seen them since. Any idea what happened to these units?

Realtime Trains | Departures from London Liverpool Street all day on 21/05/2024

Train information at London Liverpool Street all day on 21/05/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Paths are now on Realtimetrains for this overnight working to Liverpool the return trip.

On the return trip, the train has only 6 minutes between passing Camden Junction and Willesden West London Junction !