A new express freight train that will provide a low-carbon solution for parcel transportation around the UK is being developed by Eversholt Rail.
The Swift Express Freight train is being designed with Ricardo and will see Class 321 No. 321334 converted to be able to travel at 100mph and hold up to 12 tonnes of parcels.
Trials for the new Swift Express Freight service will be launched in June 2021 following work at Wabtec in Doncaster, which is due to start in April.
The work in Doncaster will include the removal of passenger features, new flooring, container equipment and a new livery.
Paul Sutherland, Client Relations Director at Eversholt Rail said: “We are excited to be developing the Swift Express Freight train which will help to support customers with a cost-effective solution to help them meet the growing demand for home delivery of parcels around the UK. This project demonstrates Eversholt Rail’s continued innovation across our rolling stock portfolio as we continue to showcase our commitment to helping the UK meet its decarbonisation targets.”
Jonathan Brown, Technical & Innovation Engagement Lead (Rail), Ricardo said: “We are delighted to be supporting Eversholt Rail with the Swift Express Freight project, providing the engineering and conversion of this vehicle for trial use. This demonstrator will show the potential for a modal shift of parcel freight to rail for rapid delivery to urban centres around the UK, removing trucks from our streets, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality”
Andy Derbyshire, Group Managing Director, Wabtec UK said: “We are proud to be part of this exciting and innovative project building on a long-established relationship with Eversholt Rail and it is great news we will be continuing this collaboration. It is fantastic to be part of a project which will support the decarbonisation of our sector as well as promoting the benefits of an increased use of rail for freight traffic”.
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Responses
”Low carbon”, ”Low carbon”, ”Low carbon”…..
I think that the redundant Class 321s shouldn’t be scrapped and for Eversholt Rail to convert them into Express Freight units. As well converting the Renatus Class 321s into Class 600 “Breeze” Hydrogen units.
Unless fitted with 750v pickup they will be useless south of London.
That probably would be Class 319 or Class 769. Class 321 are AC 25kv OHL only but it could be converted to have batteries fitted.