Interlink sets the trend

Letter from Colin Millbanks, CEO GeoPost UK in repsonse to article about Amtrak:

I hope Jonathan Smith‘s outrage was mitigated somewhat by the much needed coverage he received in the MT article (May 29).
I am fully aware that the franchise model is a successful one as we at Interlink Express created it in 1981. As the original franchised parcel operation in the UK, we also know its about local business people serving local business – we created that phrase as well.
It is said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and some years after our launch Amtrak sprang up as a carbon copy of the Interlink Express business idea.
I did not, therefore, criticise the franchise model, simply the financial ability of some of the UK opertors to properly maintain it and make the massive investment in IT and network infrastructure that is required.
In other words, is not the franchised model that is the problem but the proper and consistent funding of it.
A detailed report by the trade press into the ability to invest and long-term financial robustness of some companies within the UK express industry would make interesting reading.