Business Post set to take loads off UK roads
Express delivery company Business Post is turning to rail to escape the problems of congestion on the UK’s roads.
It has started a three-month trial using EWS’s rail express parcels service from Walsall in the West Midlands to Aberdeen, joining DHL which has been using the service since January under a three-year deal.
Keith Heller, EWS chief executive, said: “EWS firmly believes there is a market for express rail freight services across Britain. Consistently delivering on our exceptional levels of performance provides parcels operators, such as Business Post, the certainty they require to switch from road to rail.”
Colin Rann, Business Post’s general manager linehaul and distribution, said: “Road congestion is getting worse and Business Post must factor in reliable alternatives where required.
“Rail potentially offers Business Post benefits to its customers such as later loadings and earlier arrivals, as well as removing the uncertainty on some road corridors that congestion provides. We will be evaluating the results of this trial with interest.” EWS rival GB Railfreight has also set its sights on the parcels market and is talking to several express carriers about developing corridors between London, the Midlands, the north-west and the north-east.
“We are also working on a European package, with a service from the Midlands to northern France, ” a spokesman said.
He added the company was willing to invest in new rolling stock and facilities.
GB Railfreight is reported to be close to signing a deal to carry post for Royal Mail, six months after it abandoned EWS-operated rail services to save money.
ARoyal Mail spokeswoman confirmed that discussions about putting bulk mail services back on rail were at an advanced stage. It was talking to “a number of rail operators” including GB.
She added that a recent deterioration in delivery quality was not down to the change to a hub-and-spoke network using road and air services.
“We have had some problems with implementing the new delivery system, but these were linked to the change to single daily delivery, ” she said.
