Royal Mail says it is to end using its Class 325 to operate its postal services.
It says that they have reviewed its options regarding new trains, and they have decided that the best solution is to use a combination of road, air and commercial rail services for the transportation of mail.
DB Cargo, who operates the Class 325s for Royal Mail, says it is ‘profoundly disappointed’ at the decision to cease its rail freight activities from the 10th October.
The operator says it is going to begin urgent talks with the new Labour government to see what can be done to level the playing field between rail freight and the heavily subsidised road haulage sector.
The decision has been made due to the ageing Class 325 fleet and costs of running electric traction. However, DB Cargo says that they have been told by Royal Mail of their excellent performance in operating the units over the years.
DB says that ‘real change is needed’ if they have any chance of meeting the Government’s plan to have a modal shift by 75% by 2050.
Finally, DB says that they will speak with trade unions to ensure that they can communicate any impact that they may be with staff.
Royal Mail says that only 3% of mail is currently transported by rail and says that they are no planned job losses as a result of the change, but will see 30 full time driving roles created due to the increased workload.
“We are profoundly disappointed by Royal Mail’s decision to cease its rail freight activities from 10th October.
We will now be seeking urgent talks with the new Labour Government, policymakers and other key industry stakeholders, to see what more can be done to level the playing field between rail freight and the heavily subsidised road haulage sector.
We will now take the time to process and understand the implications of Royal Mail’s decision and, of course, we will be speaking to our Trade Unions to ensure we can communicate to our dedicated and hard-working colleagues as quickly as possible what any impact may be.”
DB Cargo Spokesperson
“Royal Mail will continue to use rail services to transport mail across the country however our own freight trains are at the end of their operational lives. The trains are almost 30 years old and it is increasingly difficult to secure parts for maintenance and the routes we need to meet our service requirements.
“To improve reliability, increase cost effectiveness and remain consistent with our environmental goals, over the coming months we will cease operating our own trains whilst continuing to use a mix of rail, road and air to transport mail to all corners of the UK.”
A Royal Mail Spokesperson
Responses
After the post masters scandal, you would think the management of the Post Office could not get any worse. Our roads are clogged up, and lorries cost more to run, but the dreadful management at Post Office, steam ahead with lorries, and air freight. Its time sentiment was forgotten and the post office was broken up.
The Post Office and the Royal Mail are separate organisations now, I believe. United only in their poor judgment.
Not sure about the comment heavily subsidised road services, the road transport sector pay fuel duty on their diesel. Train operators pay none on theirs as they use red (rebated) diesel. If Royal Mail pay top dollar for drivers then they will have no problem poaching drivers off other companies then leave them short. Most diesel train engines would fail the road MoT test on emissions.
I agree that they should be prioritising using Rail services for Mail transport, we do not need anymore lorries on our roads which are crowded enough. All those lines that Beeching closed would be showing their worth since in some cases roads have replaced those routes. Why doesn’t this country realise that railways should be a priority?
As far as I am aware, less than half the 325 fleet is in service, the stored units are surely a source of spares? Also I think 319’s have compatible parts, so the excuse that parts are increasingly difficult to source seems a bit hollow. As for replacement units, there should be enough 350’s going spare in the not too distant future that could be converted?
There were 16 sets built, 325010 was scarpped years ago ,325016 was retired in the last year am lead to believe..so 14 sets still in service.
It never has, the road lobby is far too strong.
The problem is royal mail are awful. They are cutting corners all the time. If they cut anymore corners, it’s a circle. IDS has been sold to an asset stripper. That’s not good for the country.
That will teach DB for scrapping the class 60’s.
30 more artic drivers on night allowance plus Royal Mail drivers are amongst the best paid in the country. Royal Mail has railheads out of use; Doncaster Bristol, Truro, Cardiff. Only recently has the company ceased flights completely. The company is now a parcel company trains are the future. All mail moves at night so platforms are available in all main line stations. Who ever came up with this has no idea of the movement of logistics. Yes we need the lorries but, rail is the future like flight is the future for international mail.
Over to you Varamis, prove Royal Mail are wrong.
What exactly are the ‘commercial rail services’ being referred to? The fact that Royal Mail are looking for 30 truck drivers (when they are supposedly in short supply) tells you all you need to know here. Like we need even more diesel powered trucks on the motorways..