Mail belongs on rail!

Hello Supporter

When we learnt that Royal Mail was decommissioning its fleet of mail trains, we knew we had to act. Mail has been carried by rail for almost 200 years, and right now in a climate crisis we need low-carbon rail freight more than ever. One freight train can remove up to 129 lorries from our clogged roads!

So, we mobilised our passionate supporters to sign a giant postcard telling Royal Mail Chair, Keith Williams CBE, that mail belongs on rail.

Once we had gathered 3,650 supportive signatures, we printed the postcard and took it Royal Mail's head office, accompanied by one our London supporters, Chris, who signed the postcard. (Click to enlarge the photos.)

Our giant postcard called on Royal Mail to work with the Government to find a way for mail to stay on rail. As well as being Chair of Royal Mail, Keith Williams CBE is Chair of the Great British Railways Transition Team, which has been instrumental in developing a rail freight growth target for the government. There is much the Government can do to boost rail freight, including reducing track access charges for freight trains and reducing the cost of electricity for rail freight operators who use electric traction.

We were assured by staff on the front desk that Keith would receive his postcard, and the next day had written confirmation to say it had made it into his hands!

We know from Keith's work on the Williams-Shapps plan for rail, that he understands the vital importance of rail freight for cutting emissions and delivering economic growth. With this, very visual, reminder of people's passion for mail rail, we hope that Royal Mail will carefully consider the future of its freight operation and find a way to continue a 200-year legacy.

Our campaign was featured in both the mainstream and trade press. We will continue engaging with Royal Mail, the Government, and rail freight operators on this vital issue.

Best wishes

Victoria

Victoria Copeland, Communications Officer
Campaign for Better Transport

Campaign photos: Devin Ainslie. Photo on postcard: D.J.H Photography, CC BY-SA 2.0.