MPs hit back as Royal Mail cancels all postal trains

Royal Mail is facing a growing backlash over its plan to stop transporting mail by rail.

This newspaper revealed last week that the postal service will sell its last freight trains after nearly 200 years of delivering mail by rail.

The move sparked fierce opposition from unions, politicians and freight industry leaders over employment concerns.

Post bosses faced calls last night to meet MPs, while the rail workers’ union said the move needed to be reviewed.

This comes as the government prepares to review the takeover of the service by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

Mail first moved onto the tracks in 1830. Royal Mail is now under pressure to meet MPs over plans to scrap its trains in October.

Daventry Conservative MP Stuart Andrew said it was a “very worrying development”.

Royal Mail’s Midlands “superhub”, at the Daventry international rail freight terminal, opened in his constituency last year.

“I will be writing to Royal Mail to seek clarification on the potential impact on those jobs and to request a meeting with them to discuss this,” he told the Mail.

The train drivers’ union Aslef said the decision “must be reviewed.”

A spokesman said: “This will also have consequences for employment on the railway.”

Sarah Hall, Labour MP for Warrington South, said she was “concerned” by the plans. Her constituency is home to the Crewe depot where logistics giant DB Cargo carries out maintenance on the trains.

Hall said: “Royal Mail should strengthen its network to ensure regular mail deliveries can continue.”

Ministers from the Department for Transport are expected to meet industry leaders in the coming weeks after taking up their new roles.

Royal Mail said it plans to use commercial rail services to transport some of the mail, but did not provide further details.

He added that it is difficult and expensive to maintain and operate 30-year-old trains.

No job losses are expected in the postal service and affected staff will be redeployed. The move will also create 30 full-time jobs for drivers.