Amtrak Express win
Express parcel company Amtrak has won a GBP3.5m (EUR5.2m) UK distribution contract with computer supplies company Systemax.
Read MoreTag: UK
UK Government will reprieve rural post offices
The trade secretary, Patricia Hewitt, is to reject a key recommendation from PostCom, the postal regulator, and extend the Pounds 150m subsidy for rural post offices to 2008.
The move, which will be announced in June, is designed to give the government more breathing space in its plans to modernise the Post Office. It will also quell rising unrest in rural communities that feared a slash-and-burn policy of the countryside network, with as many as 1,600 post offices and sub-post offices being closed.
Read MoreGeopost UK appoints new Chief Executive
Kay Phillips has become chief executive of Geopost UK and Ireland, whose national headquarters is in Roebuck Lane, Smethwick and covers parcel brands Parceline and Interlink Express.
Ms Phillips takes over from Colin Millbanks who is retiring.
Read MoreDavid Mills Interview – Post Office chief prepares for battle with banks
As anyone who has recently attempted to wrap up a parcel in one of its branches may already know, the ancient sticky tape which used to litter its counters has disappeared.
David Mills, chief executive of the Post Office, has in the past few months been on a spring cleaning drive in the organisation’s 16,500 branches. He has called in industrial cleaners to its main post offices in cities to zap the stains from the carpets and polish their windows. Gone, too, are the mangey leaflets, which have been replaced with fresh, up-to-date ones.
Read MoreSpecial report – mailing issues: Sizeable problem
As Postcomm prepares to enter consultation on Royal Mail’s size-based pricing scheme, the debate still rages on its possible negative repercussions. Richard Simpson speaks to some of the chief protagonists.
Size-based pricing could soon emerge as the new model for bulk mail services. Royal Mail’s most recent proposals will shortly be the subject of a three-month consultation process run by Postcomm. The postal operator says that, subject to the outcome of this, a size-based pricing regime could be introduced by September 2005, although Postcomm admits it could be as far away as April 2006.
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