Almost like an aeroplane
Converted express trains shuttle between England and Scotland. Two British companies, the time-critical freight forwarder Carousel Logistics and Varamis Rail, a company that says it is the “first British provider of all-electric high-speed freight trains,” are launching an alternative to diesel-powered railfreight runs.
There’s something afoot five times a week in the UK, when most people are asleep. At midnight from Monday to Friday an express train sets off from a station 5 km from Birmingham airport, arriving at the Mossend terminal in Glasgow at around 4 a.m., thanks to its rather impressive cruising speed of 160 km/h.
The composition is made up of former passenger units converted into railfreight wagons (does that ring an airfreight bell?) by Varamis Rail. Parcels and other shipments are on board; their transport is managed by Carousel Logistics.
The blooming partnership between the two firms was originally formed in February; now the runs have become part of the logistics company’s pan-European delivery services, having successfully completed their trial phase.
Andrew Lowery, Carousel Logistics’ managing director for the UK, explains that “the introduction of this zero-emissions route from Birmingham, our most important British hub, represents a real win-win situation for us. The electric high-speed train isn’t only driving us forward on the path towards becoming CO2 neutral, but is also faster than its diesel-powered alternatives.”
The train runs on track infrastructure provided by Network Rail, which obtains the electricity used exclusively from sources that go easier on the environment.
From Varamis Rail’s point of view the forwarder’s interest in its converted freight wagons was key. Varamis managing director Phil Read is convinced that “without Carousel Logistics’ input into designing the route, which meets time-critical needs, this endeavour wouldn’t have taken off. We knew from the beginning that our electric line would have to be faster, more cost-efficient and greener in order to be viable.”
The annual CO2 savings on this route and frequency come to about 1,350 t. The partners are planning to assess the viability of further routes too.