Final ever Royal Mail train returns to Glasgow for last time after 200 years of service

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.glasgowworld.com/news/final ... ce-4794832

It’s the last call for Royal Mail’s rail transport, with the final ever train reaching the end of the line in Glasgow over the weekend
Britain’s final ever Royal Mail train returned to Glasgow last Friday, September 20 - bringing 200 years of mail transport by rail to an end.

Announced by the privatised mail service earlier this year, now all mail will be delivered primarily by road transport.

The bright red mail trains had been a cornerstone of Glasgow and Scotland’s railways - zooming through stations, carrying no passengers, only post and parcels.

The 15 freight trains have been listed for sale by the national postal service, definitively divesting from railway operations.

Glasgow to Daventry in the West midlands was the final route left running in Britain - the route running for well over a hundred years, nearly as long as the service itself - it left Glasgow for the final time on the evening of Friday, September 20, 2024, just before 9pm. It returned overnight, with no mail left to deliver.


Royal Mail runs a dedicated fleet of mail trains. Picture: North West Transport Photos

Following the announcement earlier this year, DB Cargo UK (the former operator of the Royal Mail rail service) responded to the announcement, they said: “To learn that Royal Mail is now planning to rely solely on road haulage to move customers’ letters and parcels around the UK is not just disappointing for DB Cargo UK, but the wider rail freight sector too.

“Royal Mail has made it clear that its decision is purely down to the increasing costs of electric traction (EC4T) and the high investment needs of its ageing 325 fleet. In fact, it has explicitly reiterated our excellent performance in operating and maintaining their services and units over the years.

“So, this is not a decision against DB Cargo UK but one against the economics of rail freight as a mode of transport.”

[enskied]

Cleaner than my van.

[GRS]

Yeah let’s get everything on the road which is about the least efficient form of transport in the country. Christ anyone travelling around their own town will tell you how slow & long every journey has now become let alone when travelling longer distances. Typical arse pieces at the top then decide to use roads as the sole option of moving mail around the country. Christ we can’t even get our arrivals from the MC anywhere near on on time cos they’re travelling at the busiest time of day on the only network of roads that’s the main way out of our county. These people making these effed up decisions are total and utter ring pieces of the highest order!!!!!!!!

By the way any manager reading this……you’re an utter CNUT!!!

[TopperGas]

I thought RM had moved to leasing trains rather than owning them outright, so mail will still be moved by rail, or was that just BS by RM?

[derekm]

I thought RM had moved to leasing trains rather than owning them outright, so mail will still be moved by rail, or was that just BS by RM?

They did say trains would still be used but the vast majority would be on the road so once it gets stuck in traffic jams due to road works we will all be standing twiddling our thumbs

[NWpostie]

I would imagine most of the lorries will be overnight where there's less traffic, however there are other logistic companies will be doing the same thing as well making it a little busier.

[SpacePhoenix]

Depending on how this all ends up playing out, I can see there being the possibility of shift attendance times changing again in both MCs and DOs and MC > DO dispatch times changing