Rail Express Systems

Rail Express Systems livery as carried by Propelling Control Vehicle no. 94335 stabled at Plymouth on 29 August 2003

Rail Express Systems was launched at Crewe Diesel TMD in October 1991.[1] 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.[2]

The sector had maintenance depots at Crewe, Bristol Barton Hill, Cambridge and Euston Downside. Rolling stock was also maintained by other sectors at Heaton 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. RES was responsible for haulage of the Royal Train.[3][4]

As part of the privatisation of British Rail, RES was the first freight company put up for sale, with bids lodged by Freightliner, a management buyout, Serco and a Wisconsin Central led consortium.[5] The latter's bid was successful, the sale taking effect on 9 December 1995 with 164 locomotives and 677 wagons included.[6][7][8] In 1996 the business was integrated into English Welsh & Scottish.[9]

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 128s by 1990, 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were introduced and the entire parcels and mails fleet (except the Travelling Post Office stock) was refurbished or withdrawn.

Class	Image	Number	Power
Class 08			Diesel Shunter
Class 31			Diesel Locomotive
Class 47
Class 86			AC Electric Locomotive
Class 90		5
Class 105		9	DMU
Class 114		10
Class 120		10
Class 127		23
Class 128		5
Class 302		6	EMU
Class 308		3
Class 325		16

Coach Type	Image	Number	Notes
NAA - Propelling Control Vehicle		24
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 Van		10+
NTA - Post Office Stowage Van
NUA - Brake Post Office Stowage Van

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