Consignia: A single network
Consignia operates the UK’s largest road vehicle fleet of 40,000 vehicles as well as overnight rail and air networks moving some 81 million letters a day.
The new distribution network will use air and road elements in a discrete overnight network based on the ‘hub and spoke’ model. Bulk mail services will use rail transport for Royal Mail’s Mailsort and Presstrearn products and Second Class items. In total, more mail will be transported by rail, but on a simpler timetable using fewer trains, Most overnight items will be moved away from rail transport as a direct result of the continuing uncertainty about future performance levels.
Four existing distribution hubs will be used for processing bulk mail. The Princess Royal Distribution Centre in North London will be converted to a bulk mail handling centre. A new road hub will be developed in the Midlands to complete the network.
Royal Mail will continue to use air transport, in many cases using containerisation which will reduce the number of staff required for airport operations. Because of night flying restrictions, the use of quiet jet freighters will be employed to maintain airport access. Jets are also less susceptible to flight cancellations or delays because of poor weather conditions.
Over the coming year Consignia will transfer work from four sites into other existing sites in the network. The four sites are in Swindon, Chelmsford, Plymouth and Cardiff. It is estimated that the eventual impact of the review will reduce the number of distribution centres by seven as well as meaning a simplified air and rail structure.
