Varamis Rail Class 321s & 325s”

[Jacob Porrett]

Are they back running again, or just X ramblings?

Saw that in Instagram as well. Doesn't really say if or when they will be operating again.

 

[_toommm_]

There was a path today from Carlisle to Carstairs as 5Z03, with 5Z04 back. 5Z03 only made it as far as Kingmoor Jn.

 

[HMTrains]

There was a path today from Carlisle to Carstairs as 5Z03, with 5Z04 back. 5Z03 only made it as far as Kingmoor Jn.

Realtime Trains | 5Z03 1254 Carlisle to Mossend Down Yard | 14/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z03 1254 departure from Carlisle to Mossend Down Yard on 14/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Trying again today, this time back to mossend


Edit: All moves today were cancelled

 

[Royston Vasey]

In December the company resolved to issue up to £1.5 million in New Convertible Loan Notes (a form of borrowing that converts the debt to equity at a future date or on acquisition) as well as the proposed issue of 30,000,000 shares at £0.05 per share, which amounts to a £1.5 million share issue, should they have any takers.

So, moribund but not dead.

Document available from Companies House:
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12038291/filing-history

 

[apinnard]

In December the company resolved to issue up to £1.5 million in New Convertible Loan Notes (a form of borrowing that converts the debt to equity at a future date or on acquisition) as well as the proposed issue of 30,000,000 shares at £0.05 per share, which amounts to a £1.5 million share issue, should they have any takers.

So, moribund but not dead.

Document available from Companies House:
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12038291/filing-history

Ahh the good old convertible loan financing, also known as “the death spiral.” I give them twelve months, max.

 

[anglian bloke]

anybody know what’s bound for the 321s that have been at the royal mail depot / next to Harlesden for months.

 

[Carlisle]

Plus the 2 units at Carlisle must’ve been there over a month by now.

 

[themiller]

Plus the 2 units at Carlisle must’ve been there over a month by now.

But they did escape, briefly, only to return. It’s just a shame that no-one’s been cleaning off the graffiti!

 

[Royston Vasey]

Two interesting new directors appointed to the company last week, one a Matthew Carter-Brown who is a VP for PJT Partners, an investment bank. And none other than Robin Gisby, the recently departed CEO of DFTO, who also has current directorships of ATOC and RDG, previously directorships of a number of DfT operators (obviously) and the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (please refrain from any comments about novelty railway operations).

So it would appear that their fundraising was successful, even if they haven't run a revenue earning train in six months.

There is also a document confirming borrowing through convertible loan note financing (can't see a £ figure) which is secured against assets ("including those to be acquired... using the proceeds") namely 5 Class 321 trains, 3 unconverted Class 321 trains and 6 Class 325 trains.

I wonder if we will see an announcement on the purchase or see an actual transfer of those elusive Class 325s soon...

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Two interesting new directors appointed to the company last week, one a Matthew Carter-Brown who is a VP for PJT Partners, an investment bank. And none other than Robin Gisby, the recently departed CEO of DFTO, who also has current directorships of ATOC and RDG, previously directorships of a number of DfT operators (obviously) and the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (please refrain from any comments about novelty railway operations).

So it would appear that their fundraising was successful, even if they haven't run a revenue earning train in six months.

There is also a document confirming borrowing through convertible loan note financing (can't see a £ figure) which is secured against assets ("including those to be acquired... using the proceeds") namely 5 Class 321 trains, 3 unconverted Class 321 trains and 6 Class 325 trains.

I wonder if we will see an announcement on the purchase or see an actual transfer of those elusive Class 325s soon...

Can you share a link to this document? My colleagues within Royal Mail are asking me what’s happening with the old trains still under the roof, inside PRDC

 

[Royston Vasey]

Can you share a link to this document? My colleagues within Royal Mail are asking me what’s happening with the old trains still under the roof, inside PRDC

Yes of course, the document leaves unsaid as much as it says, but the wording regarding Class 325s struck me. The 325s would be a "secured train" as defined on page 4 of the 37 pager filed on 23rd January here:

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12038291/filing-history

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Recently on the Varamis Rail X Account...

"Be patient" they say.

 

[800001]

Recently on the Varamis Rail X Account...

"Be patient" they say.

Funny how apparently the pre-Xmas parcels 2025 was there target to start getting the service running and making money.

 

[realemil]

Recently on the Varamis Rail X Account...

"Be patient" they say.

Link to the tweet where they say this, https://x.com/RailVaramis/status/2019342828225327197

The post that contains the reply, from yesterday, says:

Let’s get moving with Varamis Rail, the UK’s only fully electric, high-speed rail freight company. It’s time for arrivals that keep your supply chain efficient.

Our dedicated rail line runs from Birmingham to Glasgow, five nights a week with zero-direct emissions.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Sound like something in the pipe line then.

 

[apinnard]

Sound like something in the pipe line then.

Maybe they're going to be "delivering" a service soon.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

 

[Trainman40083]

Maybe they're going to be "delivering" a service soon.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

I guess that is part anf parcel of the announcement.

 

[apinnard]

I guess that is part anf parcel of the announcement.

Maybe now their business can start expressing itself.

 

[Trainman40083]

Maybe now their business can start expressing itself.

No gold stars for that..maybe a red star

 

[Peter0124]

They best move swiftly then

 

[Trainman40083]

They best move swiftly then

I think we had best packet up

 

[swt_passenger]

Link to the tweet where they say this, https://x.com/RailVaramis/status/2019342828225327197

The post that contains the reply, from yesterday, says:

Their ‘dedicated rail line’ presumably being the one that’s also dedicated to all the other WCML users…

 

[Skimpot flyer]

I think we had best packet up

Service delayed due to financial engineering works ?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Feb 2026 ==

I see that one of the graffitied Class 321s that was sat outside PRDC has now gone. Anyone have any idea when and where it was moved?

 

[JJ Henry]

321334/407/419/428/429 were the converted units with seats removed and rails installed etc
321338/339/341/342/440 remain in as withdrawn from passenger use condition in terms of interior

Of these 321339/440 are the only two that haven't appeared on any Varamis Rail Birmingham/Mossend working yet and have spent all their time in Northampton Up TC Sdgs until moving to Willesden Railnet Sdgs earlier this year

440 has always been a spare donor for Varamis, 440 also lacks a pantograph.

 

[37069]

The pair of 321s on the back road at Carlisle are still present.

 

[LRV3004]

The pair of 321s on the back road at Carlisle are still present.

That’s 428+429. Should be seeing them myself in about 45 minutes or so as I’m on my way to Carlisle to work 4M48 south!!!

 

[2001olib]

Whilst looking at the 93 test paths, i noticed 1M05 varamis path, mossend to birmingham 17/06/2026. No idea whether this is regularly pathed but never runs.

 

[lrbvoyager]

When are the 321s leaving Carlisle, they look like an utter mess.

 

[43096]

Whilst looking at the 93 test paths, i noticed 1M05 varamis path, mossend to birmingham 17/06/2026. No idea whether this is regularly pathed but never runs.

It’s a WTT path, so don’t read anything into it about Varamis running something.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

T

Whilst looking at the 93 test paths, i noticed 1M05 varamis path, mossend to birmingham 17/06/2026. No idea whether this is regularly pathed but never runs.

There are two paths in but never run/get cancelled.