Tag: Rail Transport

Royal Mail moves ahead with new integrated road and air network

Posted by | Jun 6, 2003 | |

Royal Mail today revealed its plans to have a more efficient and flexible UK-wide distribution network, integrating air and road, in place by the end of the financial year. Original plans to include rail in the new network have now been dropped after Royal Mail failed to reach agreement with its rail freight supplier because the cost was too high. As part of a complete review of its road, rail and air network, Royal Mail announced last year that it intended to stop using rail for the distribution of First Class mail due to poor reliability, but would continue using rail for less time critical items. However, following the failure of protracted negotiations with rail freight supplier EWS over the transfer of existing services to the new network, Royal Mail has concluded that it has no alternative but to move forward with a restructure based on a road and air network only.

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Deutsche Bahn threatened with loss of postal business

Posted by | Jun 2, 2003 | |

Deutsche Bahn, the German national rail operator, is reported to be facing the prospect of loss of business with postal service and logistics group Deutsche Post. The postal group has criticised the rail service for poor transport quality and slowness, and is therefore increasing concentration on air mail services.

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Closure looms for UK Royal Mail underground railway

Posted by | Apr 22, 2003 | |

A little-known underground railway carrying letters and parcels beneath London’s streets is to be mothballed at the end of May, according to a leaked memo circulated to Royal Mail employees. The 75-year-old Mail Rail network, which runs from Paddington to Whitechapel, has fallen victim to cost cutting. Its closure will come under attack this week from London assembly members, who say alternative uses for the line should be explored, including transporting valuable items such as money or jewellery. Talks to try to save the railway have been under way since November, with the Communication Workers Union staunchly opposing the closure.

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Deregulation train faces an uphill climb

Posted by | Mar 24, 2003 | |

Not all the EU members states have welcomed cross-border rail liberalisation, reports Chris Lewis

Saturday 15 March marked the date on which European rail freight took its first tentative steps towards the free market. The EC’s first railway package came into effect to, in theory, open up an estimated 85% of the network – for cross-border services only – to competition from state rail operators and private sector firms.

A second railway package, currently being debated by the European Council, will open up the entire network to full cabotage – domestic as well as international. This is widely expected to be given a 2008 deadline, rather than 2006 as originally hoped for, as the price for securing the co-operation of France, Belgium and Luxembourg.

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Rail freight link to alleviate Britain’s roads

Posted by | Mar 10, 2003 | |

A £10bn rail link, aimed at taking 10,000 lorries a day off Britain’s congested motorways is expected to be approved by the Department of Transport. Plans for the privately funded freight link between the north of England and the Channel Tunnel, which could also include new express passenger services, are understood to have been endorsed by the Transport minister, John Spellar. The 430-mile Central Railway route would relieve the M1, M6, M25, M20 and other motorways of some five million lorry journeys a year, its backers claim.

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