In a bid to transform urban logistics, Varamis Rail has launched its new zero-emission freight service using high-speed electric trains to deliver goods into the UK’s capital.
The new service into central London offers deliveries that are quicker, more efficient, cheaper and more sustainable than other urban logistics services currently available.
The company held a launch event at London’s Liverpool Street station on March 13 to showcase the importance of zero-emission logistics and the unique advantage that rail has to bring freight right into a city or urban center.
Industry leaders from rail and logistics were able to hear about the efficient intercity service for small freight, and the advantage that rail offers in efficiencies, cost, reliability and sustainability objectives.
Sustainable benefits
Companies able to offer sustainable end-to-end deliveries for the first and last mile participated in the event, displaying electric vans and e-cargo bikes, along with innovations in refrigerated transportation of small perishable goods.
Speaking at the event, Phil Read, MD, Varamis Rail, said, “Varamis Rail continues to promote the sustainable benefits that the UK rail industry has to offer the logistics sector and wider economy. Our showcase event today has given an opportunity to key stakeholders not only from the logistics sector but local government to visualize a more sustainable method of moving high-volume goods into the heart of central London with our fleet of repurposed fully-electric former passenger trains.
“The transport sector in the UK remains the largest emitter of CO2 . If the UK government target of net-zero emissions by 2050 is to be met, then ambitious, carbon-free initiatives like Varamis Rail service offering are not just desirable, they are essential.”
Who is Varamis Rail?
According to Varamis Rail, it is the UK’s first high speed rail logistics company providing fast, zero-emission end-to-end logistics services. Varamis Rail won a ‘First of a Kind’ grant from Innovate UK in September 2022 to support its activities in this new space for express rail freight.
This funding from the Department for Transport enabled the company to continue with the development of its rail operations including enticing new customers onto rail who previously had little or no knowledge of what the railway could offer.
Since then Varamis Rail has been running high-speed freight services between the Midlands and Scotland, and now wants to promote its new zero-emission freight service into central London, a new approach to logistics which enables goods distribution by electric trains into the heart of London.
Mail by rail
Parcel and Postal Technology International explored the use of rail services for more efficient and sustainable operations in the March 2023 issue of the magazine. You can read more about those projects here.