What is happening with the Royal Mail 325s left at PRDC?

[Skimpot flyer]

There was a rumour that Varamis had relinquished ownership of these 325s, and had been unable to source parts

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Three Class 325s were shunted from Platform 2 today, out to the reception sidings, then back into Platform 3.
The one nearest the buffers was left there, and the two other units returned to Platform 2.
The only reason I can think for doing this is to gain access to the one side of the unit that had not yet had grey vinyls applied yet. Moving it would offer easy access to the right-hand side (as observed from the buffers) from the platform island, instead of the trackbed.

Work on the re-livery ceased abruptly in April last year

 

[sad1e]

Three Class 325s were shunted from Platform 2 today, out to the reception sidings, then back into Platform 3.
The one nearest the buffers was left there, and the two other units returned to Platform 2.
The only reason I can think for doing this is to gain access to the one side of the unit that had not yet had grey vinyls applied yet. Moving it would offer easy access to the right-hand side (as observed from the buffers) from the platform island, instead of the trackbed.

Work on the re-livery ceased abruptly in April last year

So the relivery has restarted, seems Varamis is back on their feet now then.

 

[Liverpool 507]

Are Varamis taking the 325s on to be rid of the 321s? The latter at Carlisle seem to be rotting away there.

 

[XCTurbostar]

Given the state of the service, I cant imagine Varamis are in any rush to use the 325s.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Are Varamis taking the 325s on to be rid of the 321s? The latter at Carlisle seem to be rotting away there.

The filings for their recent round of debt funding specifically included six Class 325 as "Secured Trains" - secured in the financial sense, i.e. collateral. They stated that the proceeds of the fundraising may be used in full or in part to acquire an unspecified number of the Secured Trains. The list comprised 5x converted Class 321, 3x unconverted Class 321s and 6x Class 325s. They already own those 321s so that could only mean purchasing some or all of 6x 325s.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

I was under the impression that they had already acquired the 325s

 

[The_Train]

So the relivery has restarted, seems Varamis is back on their feet now then.

Well, he is back active on twitter spouting the same stuff as before. The proof, however, is in the pudding and I don't think there has been any Mossend to Birmingham runs for a while now. Sometimes, friends and family should step in and question whether someone wants to blow all of their money on something that doesn't appear to have legs!

Am I right in thinking that one of the reasons Royal Mail ceased their rail operations was because the 325s were coming up for heavy exam work?

 

[cj_1985]

Well, he is back active on twitter spouting the same stuff as before. The proof, however, is in the pudding and I don't think there has been any Mossend to Birmingham runs for a while now. Sometimes, friends and family should step in and question whether someone wants to blow all of their money on something that doesn't appear to have legs!

Am I right in thinking that one of the reasons Royal Mail ceased their rail operations was because the 325s were coming up for heavy exam work?

I believe that was one excuse that was hinted at... but the 325s have never exactly been heavily worked. The motor carriages receiver fairly heavy repairs/work during 2008/2009... during the period where 325s were being almost exclusively hauled by class 87s (with the 325s in 3 car sets).

There was also the issue that as far as RM is concerned the road network is easier/cheaper/more flexible.... their fleet is able to be more regularly and cheaply replaced, and able to be diverted onto other routes with the shortest of notice, unlike with Rail.

Personally, I think that the fact they didn't contract another company to transport ANY of their traffic by rail, shows that they had no interest in using it.... it wasn't just about the 325s getting on in years

 

[Royston Vasey]

I was under the impression that they had already acquired the 325s

They (or at least the reports) certainly gave that impression. Perhaps paying for them was the issue.

Well, he is back active on twitter spouting the same stuff as before. The proof, however, is in the pudding and I don't think there has been any Mossend to Birmingham runs for a while now. Sometimes, friends and family should step in and question whether someone wants to blow all of their money on something that doesn't appear to have legs!

The claims of running a "nightly service" on a "dedicated rail line" border on dishonest and the responses and rebuttals of people calling them out (admittedly impolitely) are just amateurish, as are "#BeKind or #BeQuiet" in the company bio, no matter how heartfelt. Elsewhere, retweeting climate change posts is very worthy but a bit of a stretch to imply that electric parcels freight is new or unique to them.

Regarding "blowing all their money", they just refinanced the company through issue of up to £1.5 million in convertible loan note financing and two new directors were appointed, one Robin Gisby previously of Network Rail who left his position as CEO of DfTO at the end of last year. The other is a VP at an investment bank, PJT Partners, so I expect they have been the main financiers.

The wording of the Secured Trains paragraph is as follows:

Secured Trains: means the rolling stock owned by the Borrower or to be acquired utilising (in whole or in part and whether directly or indirectly) the proceeds of the loan notes issued under either or both of the Convertible Loan Note Instruments. For the avoidance of doubt this will be 5 class 321 trains that have been converted and 3 class 321 that remain unconverted, plus 6 class 325 trains. Each train consists of 4 vehicles (carriages).

All of this is in the public domain from Companies House, incidentally. I have no inside knowledge and I simply wish them well.

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

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Well, he is back active on twitter spouting the same stuff as before. The proof, however, is in the pudding and I don't think there has been any Mossend to Birmingham runs for a while now. Sometimes, friends and family should step in and question whether someone wants to blow all of their money on something that doesn't appear to have legs!

Am I right in thinking that one of the reasons Royal Mail ceased their rail operations was because the 325s were coming up for heavy exam work?

Cheaper to send mail by road nowadays.

 

[sad1e]

Any update on the position of Varamis. It's been almost a year since they last ran a service now.

 

[wickham]

According to recent phptos posted on other sites, there is still a Varamis 321 dumped behind Carlisle station - beleive it failed there some time ago. Too costly to recover ??

 

[Jacob Porrett]

According to recent phptos posted on other sites, there is still a Varamis 321 dumped behind Carlisle station - beleive it failed there some time ago. Too costly to recover ??

There has been a unit or two at Carlisle for a while now.

 

[Bob Price]

There is a Facebook post here which shows one of the units at Carlisle. The comments are questioning their future as well. If this is not allowed please delete.

25K views · 355 reactions | ’ ? Sad to see these class 321’s seemingly nearing the end as Varamis Rail’s parcel project has ceased. Seen alongside 90002 in Carlisle station sidings - These units graffitied and in poor condition will likely need

’ ? Sad to see these class 321’s seemingly nearing the end as Varamis Rail’s parcel project has ceased. Seen alongside 90002 in Carlisle station sidings - These...

www.facebook.com

 

[Towers]

There is a Facebook post here which shows one of the units at Carlisle. The comments are questioning their future as well. If this is not allowed please delete.

25K views · 355 reactions | ’ ? Sad to see these class 321’s seemingly nearing the end as Varamis Rail’s parcel project has ceased. Seen alongside 90002 in Carlisle station sidings - These units graffitied and in poor condition will likely need

’ ? Sad to see these class 321’s seemingly nearing the end as Varamis Rail’s parcel project has ceased. Seen alongside 90002 in Carlisle station sidings - These...

www.facebook.com

That’s really not a good look for the station, either!

 

[Invincible]

How ever watching NHKTV Japones Rail Journal I believe that was one excuse that was hinted at... but the 325s have never exactly been heavily worked. The motor carriages receiver fairly heavy repairs/work during 2008/2009... during the period where 325s were being almost exclusively hauled by class 87s (with the 325s in 3 car sets).

There was also the issue that as far as RM is concerned the road network is easier/cheaper/more flexible.... their fleet is able to be more regularly and cheaply replaced, and able to be diverted onto other routes with the shortest of notice, unlike with Rail.

Personally, I think that the fact they didn't contract another company to transport ANY of their traffic by rail, shows that they had no interest in using it.... it wasn't just about the 325s getting on in years

Watching NHK TV Japan Rail Journal converting Bullet trains to inter city freight has been successful and helped to reduce pollution. But part due to not enough truck drivers and limited driving hours in trucks. So if it works in Japan could work in UK.

Andrea Rossi, the chief executive of DB Cargo UK, said he was “profoundly disappointed” by the move to axe trains, first reported in the Daily Mail, suggesting it could result in an extra 10,000 HGVs being added to “our already congested roads”.

 

[Towers]

Watching NHK TV Japan Rail Journal converting Bullet trains to inter city freight has been successful and helped to reduce pollution. But part due to not enough truck drivers and limited driving hours in trucks. So if it works in Japan could work in UK.

Does Japan have the same situation whereby it is reportedly many multiples more expensive to ship goods by rail than by road, thus leading to a loss of freight traffic?

 

[Invincible]

Does Japan have the same situation whereby it is reportedly many multiples more expensive to ship goods by rail than by road, thus leading to a loss of freight traffic?

Think it depends on which consultants are used. In the UK after Brexit and COVID there was problems getting enough truck drivers, so rail freight was looking better, so something must have changed?

 

[sad1e]

Varamis revival with the 2026 timetable change maybe , they seem to have acquired Mossend - Warrington and Mossend - Daventry paths looking at the December 2026 WTT Change.

I may be mistaken but these used to be DB mail paths IIRC

Train 1M45 Mossend Down Yard to Daventry Int Rft Recep Rfd Mon 04/01/2027 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Train 1M45 Mossend Down Yard to Daventry Int Rft Recep Rfd departing on Mon 04/01/2027 | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

Train 1M37 Mossend Down Yard to Warrington Royal Mail(Dbs) Mon 04/01/2027 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Train 1M37 Mossend Down Yard to Warrington Royal Mail(Dbs) departing on Mon 04/01/2027 | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Aug 2026 ==

Although i have seen a photo of the PRDC taken with a drone recently and the 325s mysteriously seem to be missing (unless they're shunted further back into the PRDC that is).

 

[GraphitProjekt]

Do we think they might just be attempting to operate the old royal mail paths and giving up on the class 321 operations?

 

[XCTurbostar]

I suspect its more likely the 325s were purchased with the intention of use if Royal Mail U-turned on Mail-by-rail. The paths are probably confirmation of some type of U-turn for Christmas traffic.

Just for balance, I note that the paths are timed as Unadvertised Express not Parcels.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

The 325s are definitely still under the roof at PRDC, at platforms 2,3 and 4. I know because colleagues ask me occasionally if there has been any news of the rebranding into a grey livery getting completed.

Did anyone notice on the live-rail page that at the bottom it says ‘Flow Info: Orion Mail Services’

 

[sad1e]

I know because colleagues ask me occasionally if there has been any news of the rebranding into a grey livery getting completed.

Have the units had any more vinyl applied recently or since your last update here ?

 

[EYFanatic]

Varamis revival with the 2026 timetable change maybe , they seem to have acquired Mossend - Warrington and Mossend - Daventry paths looking at the December 2026 WTT Change.

I may be mistaken but these used to be DB mail paths IIRC

Train 1M45 Mossend Down Yard to Daventry Int Rft Recep Rfd Mon 04/01/2027 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Train 1M45 Mossend Down Yard to Daventry Int Rft Recep Rfd departing on Mon 04/01/2027 | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

Train 1M37 Mossend Down Yard to Warrington Royal Mail(Dbs) Mon 04/01/2027 | Rail Record

Live Train Times for Train 1M37 Mossend Down Yard to Warrington Royal Mail(Dbs) departing on Mon 04/01/2027 | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Aug 2026 ==

Although i have seen a photo of the PRDC taken with a drone recently and the 325s mysteriously seem to be missing (unless they're shunted further back into the PRDC that is).
View attachment 209739

What is the unit in the bottom right quadrant of the picture?

 

[2001olib]

‘Flow Info: Orion Mail Services’

Wasnt Orion ROG's planned parcels service?

 

[XCTurbostar]

The TSC (59980001) is Varamis though as referenced in many ORR documents like this. I suspect any mention of Orion is an error by Rail-Record.

 

[sad1e]

What is the unit in the bottom right quadrant of the picture?

321407

 

[Skimpot flyer]

Have the units had any more vinyl applied recently or since your last update here ?

There’s been no activity in recent months, but back in February I posted that a couple of units had been moved around to different platforms via the reception sidings. I think from memory the re-livery work started up again briefly, only to stop abruptly within days.

The unit halfway up platform 4 looks to have grey wraparounds on both sides.

 

[XCTurbostar]

There’s been no activity in recent months, but back in February I posted that a couple of units had been moved around to different platforms via the reception sidings. I think from memory the re-livery work started up again briefly, only to stop abruptly within days.

The unit halfway up platform 4 looks to have grey wraparounds on both sides.

Interesting, I suspect the lack of roof paint is due to the OHLE still being energised and access being unsafe.