THE need to replace the ageing Class 325 postal units has led Royal Mail to announce that the traffic will be transferred to road from October 10, writes ‘Industry Update’.
The 16 dual-voltage EMUs were built at Derby in 1995/6, and were technically similar to the Class 319s but with cabs based on the‘Networker’fleet and were capable of locomotive haulage.
They were built as part of Royal Mail’s £150 million Railnet modernisation plan, which was conceived by Rail Express Systems, formerly BR’s Parcels sector. This recognised a need to provide dedicated services rather than the previous practice of conveying mail using passenger trains.