Rail Express Systems

Rail Express Systems livery as carried by Class 90 electric locomotive no. 90016 at London Liverpool Street on 6 March 2004
Rail Express Systems livery as carried by Propelling Control Vehicle no. 94335 stabled at Plymouth on 29 August 2003

Rail Express Systems was a sector of British Rail. Upon the sectorisation of British Rail during the 1980s, the Parcels Sector was created. In 1991, this was re-branded as Rail Express Systems.

This sector of British Rail was responsible for transport of mail and parcels traffic, including the Travelling Post Office trains, as well as taking over the charter operations from Intercity.

History

The Rail Express Systems launch event was held at Crewe Diesel Depot in October 1991. For this event, examples of Class 08, 47, 86 and 90 locomotives were painted into a new livery of red, with a grey upper band, and light blue and grey flashes. The light blue and grey flashes represent a set of stylised eagle's wings.

The sector had maintenance depots at Crewe Diesel, Bristol Barton Hill, Cambridge and Euston Downside. Rolling stock was also maintained by other sectors at Heaton depot in Newcastle and Liverpool Edge Hill.

During the existence of the Parcels sector there were many changes in the use of rail to deliver mail and parcels. Smaller services were cut back, and mail services were removed from most passenger stations. These changes were in part through the Railnet scheme initiated in 1996 which created mail hubs at Shieldmuir (Motherwell), Low Fell (Gateshead), Warrington, Doncaster, Bristol Parkway, Tonbridge, and Wembley PRDC (London) as well as dedicated platforms at Stafford.

The company was bought by English Welsh & Scottish in 1996.

Mid 1990s routes

Travelling Post Office routes
  • London-Glasgow
  • London-Carlisle
  • London-Newcastle
  • London-Dover
  • London-Norwich
  • Penzance-Bristol
  • Plymouth-Newcastle
  • Cardiff-Glasgow
Other mail trains
  • London-Bristol
  • London-Glasgow
  • London-Newcastle
  • London-Norwich
  • London-Plymouth
  • London-Swansea
  • Plymouth-Glasgow
  • Plymouth-Newcastle
  • York-Shrewsbury (ECS worked from Newcastle and reversed into p1 at York)

Parcels Sector rolling stock

The late 1980s and early 1990s saw many changes to the Rail Express Systems fleet, with the cessation of the usage of Class 105s by 1987, Class 114s by 1990, Class 120s by 1987, Class 127s by 1989, Class 302s by 1996 and Class 308s by 1989.

In the same period, Class 325 EMUs were introduced and the entire parcels and mails fleet (except the Travelling Post Office stock) was refurbished or withdrawn.

ClassImageNumberPowerNotes
Class 08Diesel Shunter
Class 31Diesel Locomotive
Class 47Diesel Locomotive
Class 86AC Electric Locomotive
Class 905AC Electric Locomotive
Class 105Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU)
Class 11410DMU
Class 120DMU
Class 12723DMU
Class 3026Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)
Class 3083EMU
Class 32516EMU
Coach TypeImageNumberNotes
NAA - Propelling Control Vehicle24
NBA - Brake Gangwayed (High-security)
NDX - Brake Gangwayed (90 mph)
NEX - Brake Gangwayed (100 mph)
NHA - Brake Gangwayed (110 mph)
NIA - Brake Gangwayed (High-security) (110 mph)
NJX - General Utility Van (90 mph)
NKA - General Utility Van (High-security) (100 mph)
NLX - Newspaper Van
NNX - Courier Vehicle
NPX - General Utility Van (TPO use)
NOA - General Utility Van (100 mph)
NRA - Container Van
NSA - Post Office Sorting Van10+
NTA - Post Office Stowage Van
NUA - Brake Post Office Stowage Van

References

    • Rail Magazine Issue 159
    • Motive Power Pocket books pub. Platform 5
    • British Multiple Units Volume 1 and Volume 3
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