Mail Train today....

[dangie]

Saw Mail Train travelling southbound through Rugeley Trent Valley at 2.15 this afternoon. I don't see it very often. Two questions:
1. Does it follow a regular timetable or just 'whenever'.
2. Where was it coming from and where was it going to.
Thanks

 

[sprinterguy]

The mail trains, formed of class 325 Electric Postal Units and operated by DB Schenker, operate on a regular schedule and run between Willesden (London), Warrington and Sheildmuir (Glasgow) up and down the WCML. Some additional services also run at times of high demand, such as Christmas.

 

[whhistle]

However at that time of day, at this time of year it was unusual.

The majority of the time mail trains run in the late afternoon/early evening around the Rugeley area.

 

[33056]

It was a 1M23 Shieldmuir to Willesden, doesn't usually run this time of the year so must have just been an extra one for some reason or other. I think the units off this might be going back empty to Crewe round about now, there was a schedule in the system but I have no idea if it is actually running.

 

[dangie]

Thanks everyone.

 

[Boothby97]

I was supposed to see the train that you saw at Rugeley Trent Valley because I had the times, but it never passed Northampton. It ran extra I presume because of it being a Bank Holiday on Monday.

Hope this helps, Sam

 

[NSEFAN]

I saw a 12 car class 325 formation heading north through Kings Langley at around 5pm this afternoon. Didn't have my camera to hand at the time unfortunately!

 

[MCR247]

Do the 325s run on their own now? I seem to remember them often being dragged?

 

[sprinterguy]

Do the 325s run on their own now? I seem to remember them often being dragged?

Yes, they have had their pantograph & motor cars reinstated back into the sets for some time now (A year or two at least) since they had remedial and repair work undertaken on them.

 

[Boothby97]

Do the 325s run on their own now? I seem to remember them often being dragged?

They are generally dragged in the winter, with the snow and ice. When GBRf had the RM contract they used a fleet of Class 87s which are now in Bulgaria. They then hired Electric Traction 86s and 87s but now with DBS holding the RM contract, 66s, 67s, 90s or 92s can be used.

Infact, I passed Willesden Princess Royal Disrubution Centre (PRDC) on Tuesday 31st July 2012 and 90019 was on the front of the northbound evening mail set. After looking at a TOPS list, the 90 ended up hauling the working through to Sheildmuir. Rare though, never my self seen 325s being hauled and I've seen every member of the fleet (including scrapped 325010).

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yes, they have had their pantograph & motor cars reinstated back into the sets for some time now (A year or two at least) since they had remedial and repair work undertaken on them.

At least 3 years I'd say as I've been trainspotting on the WCML for 3 years now.
Thanks, Sam

 

[dviner]

I saw a 12 car class 325 formation heading north through Kings Langley at around 5pm this afternoon. Didn't have my camera to hand at the time unfortunately!

It normally romps through Tring between 17:00 and 17:15

 

[NSEFAN]

It normally romps through Tring between 17:00 and 17:15

Presumably thats on an as-required basis?

 

[dviner]

Presumably thats on an as-required basis?

Must be requiring it every weekday then...

 

[Boothby97]

Runs 99.999999% of the time. Don't think it runs most Bank Holidays or weekends.
Thanks, Sam

 

[RichmondCommu]

The mail trains, formed of class 325 Electric Postal Units and operated by DB Schenker, operate on a regular schedule and run between Willesden (London), Warrington and Sheildmuir (Glasgow) up and down the WCML. Some additional services also run at times of high demand, such as Christmas.

Is the Royal Mail facility at Willesden still served by train?

 

[sprinterguy]

Is the Royal Mail facility at Willesden still served by train?

Yes, very much so.

 

[David10]

Is the Royal Mail facility at Willesden still served by train?

Yes, but I believe the number of platforms was reduced after services were withdrawn in 2004.

 

[87015]

There are two train pairs which run on a daily SX basis;

1S96 1640 Willesden - Shieldmuir and 1M44 1617 Shieldmuir-Warrington forming 1A97 1932 Warrington - Willesden

1M03 1738 Shieldmuir - Warrington and 1S55 2330 Warrington - Shieldmuir

 

[33056]

Yes, but I believe the number of platforms was reduced after services were withdrawn in 2004.

No, all the platforms are still there but 6 and 7 were shortened a few years ago and can now only hold two locos (or one with the gates shut!). All the platforms are still available if required though 1S96 / 1A97 mostly use the same platform all the time and two different platforms are used in the run up to Christmas when the service increases.

 

[Jonny]

Mind you, what gets me is the VAT 'fiddle' (or reverse-fiddle, since it's the government doing the fiddling) that the treasury pulled on the Post Office & Royal Mail (RM). Basically, because stamps are exempt from VAT - which is not the same thing as zero-rated (such as books, food, etc...)*. This means that RM can't claim back the VAT that it incurs, whereas those companies that produce zero-rated goods and services can. This is a problem since whoever runs the train is required to charge VAT on all aspects of its service, including wages (on top of payroll taxes and everything else) - see VAT Notice 744B whereas most other businesses could register for VAT and claim it back.

* see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/forms-rates/rates/goods-services.htm - even train fares are zero-rated, so TOCs can claim back their input VAT.

 

[DarloRich]

They are generally dragged in the winter, with the snow and ice. When GBRf had the RM contract they used a fleet of Class 87s which are now in Bulgaria. They then hired Electric Traction 86s and 87s but now with DBS holding the RM contract, 66s, 67s, 90s or 92s can be used.

Infact, I passed Willesden Princess Royal Disrubution Centre (PRDC) on Tuesday 31st July 2012 and 90019 was on the front of the northbound evening mail set. After looking at a TOPS list, the 90 ended up hauling the working through to Sheildmuir. Rare though, never my self seen 325s being hauled and I've seen every member of the fleet (including scrapped 325010).

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


At least 3 years I'd say as I've been trainspotting on the WCML for 3 years now.
Thanks, Sam

I see the 1640 service through Bletchley every night about 1730 - i have noticed two 90 hauled trains recently. They tend to run slow line hauled and fast line under their own power.

 

[Boothby97]

I see the 1640 service through Bletchley every night about 1730 - i have noticed two 90 hauled trains recently. They tend to run slow line hauled and fast line under their own power.

Wether they are being hauled more regulary because of faults. There was a 325 move from Willesden to Crewe EMD last Wednesday which should have been hauled. Not actually seen a loco hauling a mail set on mainline though so may be occuring more often.

Thanks, Sam

 

[Phil H]

Never seen a hauled one either. Often seen the southbound train at 21.30 ish in Hanslope.

 

[MattRobinson]

Mind you, what gets me is the VAT 'fiddle' (or reverse-fiddle, since it's the government doing the fiddling) that the treasury pulled on the Post Office & Royal Mail (RM). Basically, because stamps are exempt from VAT - which is not the same thing as zero-rated (such as books, food, etc...)*. This means that RM can't claim back the VAT that it incurs, whereas those companies that produce zero-rated goods and services can. This is a problem since whoever runs the train is required to charge VAT on all aspects of its service, including wages (on top of payroll taxes and everything else) - see VAT Notice 744B whereas most other businesses could register for VAT and claim it back.

* see http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/vat/forms-rates/rates/goods-services.htm - even train fares are zero-rated, so TOCs can claim back their input VAT.

We have a Tory Government, they're trying to get rid of the Post Office and replace it with their parcel delivery friends like DHL and UPS...