Swift 321 - And the wider light logistics scene

[EnlargedTrain2]

Hi All,

Some paths have appeared in the system to run a set of ECS movements from Doncaster RMT - York - Peterborough and back to the RMT, twice daily, for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday - this being operated by the Swift Express eversholt 321334 (Some paths for wednesday below)

So a few outstanding and related questions are:

What does the TSC code for this working define? Previous test runs have been undertaken under a GBRf stock movement Train Service Code, but these runs are all under 59980001 , which RailCam defines as a Varamis code, If so this is the first "actual" Varamis working and a sign that their business is still very much present and in planning, with an intention to progress and operate services.

Will Varamis solely use 321334? If i recall Orion struggled to find any suitable operations utilising less than 8 carriages, as the low profits gained from a 4 carriage train were deemed uneconomical when the operating costs were considered.

If Varamis need further units, is there any plans to perhaps hire in the Orion units until the Wolverton conversion 321s are prepared?


Many thanks,

Joshua





5Z20 Doncaster RMT - York - 06:19 arr p7
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Realtime Trains | 5Z20 0538 Doncaster Royal Mail Terml to York | 10/08/2022

Real-time train running information for 5Z20 0538 departure from Doncaster Royal Mail Terml to York on 10/08/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

5Z21 York - Peterborough - 06:25 dep p7
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Realtime Trains | 5Z21 0625 York to Peterborough | 10/08/2022

Real-time train running information for 5Z21 0625 departure from York to Peterborough on 10/08/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

5Z24 Doncaster RMT - York - 12:15 arr p6
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Realtime Trains | 5Z24 1138 Doncaster Royal Mail Terml to York | 10/08/2022

Real-time train running information for 5Z24 1138 departure from Doncaster Royal Mail Terml to York on 10/08/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

5Z25 York - Peterborough - 12:36 dep p6

Realtime Trains | 5Z25 1236 York to Peterborough | 10/08/2022

Real-time train running information for 5Z25 1236 departure from York to Peterborough on 10/08/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Speed43125]

Article in rail advent regarding Varmis leasing a unit;

Varamis Rail leases Class 321 Express Freight Train from Eversholt Rail

Varamis Rail and Eversholt Rail have reached an agreement which will see a Class 321 Swift Express Freight train go into service with the new freight operator in the UK.

www.railadvent.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Oct 2022 ==

Press release from Eversholt is as follows:

Eversholt Rail has reached agreement with Varamis Rail to lease a Class 321 Swift Express Freight train to deliver light goods at high speed across the UK. Varamis will be running services 5 nights a week from Birmingham to Scotland for a major parcel carrier.

Class 321 Swift Express Freight provides all electric traction delivering an environmentally friendly alternative to HGVs predominantly used in the logistics sector. The ex-passenger trains have been repurposed for freight use with high capacity and 100mph services able to access rail terminals, ports and city centres across the rail network.

Eversholt Rail have committed to converting 4 further Class 321 Swift Express Freight trains. This work is being carried out by Gemini, Wolverton and due for completion by the end of 2022. Negotiations continue with multiple operators regarding these trains and leases will be agreed in the coming months.

Paul Sutherland, Client Services Director at Eversholt Rail said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Varamis. We share a vision to decarbonise the transportation of goods, encouraging modal shift from road to rail whilst contributing towards the UK Government’s ambition to decarbonise the rail sector by 2050.”

Varamis Rail Managing Director, Phil Read said “The Team at Varamis are delighted to take delivery of the Class 321 Swift Express. As a new TOC entrant I would like to thank Eversholt Rail in supporting Varamis become the UKs newest and greenest Train Operator”.

 

[yoyothehobo]

just seen it arrive into York

 

[ExRes]

One unit, five nights a week, sounds like they've got access to a pretty good maintenance team

 

[computerSaysNo]

One unit, five nights a week, sounds like they've got access to a pretty good maintenance team

I was just thinking that.
Isn't sustained maximum-speed running pretty much the harshest conditions you can put a unit through as well?

Are there still second-hand components in existence from other/scrapped 321s? I guess they could scavenge from those?

 

[Dai Corner]

I was just thinking that.
Isn't sustained maximum-speed running pretty much the harshest conditions you can put a unit through as well?

Are there still second-hand components in existence from other/scrapped 321s? I guess they could scavenge from those?

I'd have thought the 18 hours a day on suburban services they were built for would be more taxing?

I wouldn't launch an experimental service without a maintenance spare though.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I'd have thought the 18 hours a day on suburban services they were built for would be more taxing?

I wouldn't launch an experimental service without a maintenance spare though.

I'm not too sure. Suburban start/stop is going to be more cycles on the brakes = more wear on the actuators, more temperature variation on the pads, more wear on the compressor; more on/off cycles on the motors = more temperature variation = more stress, but then lower average speed so suspension and axles will have less wear, more on/off cycles on the motors means overall "on" time will be less.

Sustained high-speed running will have fewer motor on/off cycles so higher overall "on" time (bad), but then temperature variation will be less = less stress (good). Brakes will have fewer on/off cycles which will be better for the actuators and compressor, and will mean less temperature variation which is good. But then higher average speed means suspension will have more wear.

 

[StephenHunter]

321334 is an interesting choice; it spent a while in NS livery to promote the Sail-Rail tickets.