Post bosses defend axing of UK rail service

Postal bosses have defended a decision to axe nightly mail trains passing through Exeter to London Paddington after more than a century of operation.

The Royal Mail has been running its 50 ‘travelling post offices’ on Britain’s rail network, including the Great Western main line, since the mid-19th Century. But it now says trains are no longer economic or reliable.

Ending the service could cost around 70 jobs at sorting offices and rail freight depots in Plymouth and Cornwall.

Rail unions have attacked the transfer of all post from rail to road and air and say it will damage the environment.

A Rail, Maritime and Transport Union spokesman said: “This is a cost-cutting step too far and if the Government has any self-respect left it will step in to stop it.

“The Government cannot stand by and watch Royal Mail put hundreds of thousands more lorries on the roads, at a huge cost to the environment and the taxpayer and threatening to clog already congested roads beyond breaking point.”

Originally, the Royal Mail had been looking at taking first class post off the rails, but it had now decided to stop using trains altogether following a breakdown in contract talks with freight operator English, Welsh and Scottish Railway.

Bosses say the move will save £90 million and not put any more lorries on the road.

Paul Bateson, Royal Mail’s managing director, logistics, said: “Quite simply, other forms of transport can give us the same benefits, in terms of flexibility and quality, but at a lower cost.

“We are disappointed that, after two years of discussions with EWS, we have been unable to make any headway. But we cannot negotiate any longer.”