Dan Fredrikson was at the Inst of Couriers February, Heads of Industry round table to showcase the very latest express parcel options on Rail. ‘This is an option to test rail and its available know. Rail is here, we have been doing a lot on express freight.

We have different modes available on a class 321 freight multiple unit, roller cages to individual parcels. Talking to operators the key challenge is multiple handling. Focusing on a new service between Glasgow and Birmingham. Journey times are around four and a half ours and the service is running five evenings a week. Its available know and ready for you to test rail.

Network Rail and Varamis Rail, the UK’s newest train operator, have worked together to launch an innovative, zero carbon freight service. The service, which launched tis month runs between Scotland and the Midlands, Monday to Friday. Targeted at express parcels and third-party delivery companies, it will primarily deal with next day delivery of consumer goods. Industry partners, Eversholt Rail, have converted a number of fully electric 4-car trains formerly used in passenger service to enable them to carry freight while Network Rail provided the necessary operating licenses, contracts, and train paths for the service to operate.

The trains running partially loaded and funded under an Innovate UK grant on a trial period operate between Mossend Parcel Platform on the avanti West Coast line to Birmingham International.

This followed trial operations of the service, which commenced in October 2022, to test the robustness and practicality of the service, and enabled logistics companies to test the service..

Dan went further, ‘We don’t stop at the trains, we are also looking at the Network Rail Sites to connect with ground and building opportunities for logistics providers.’