Rail Express Systems


Rail Express Systems was a sector of British Rail. Sectorisation of British Rail in the 1980s led to creation of the Parcels Sector, which in 1991 was re-branded as Rail Express Systems. This sector was responsible for transport of mail and parcels, including the Travelling Post Office trains, as well as taking over charter operations from InterCity and haulage of the Royal Train. After privatisation in 1995, the business was integrated into English Welsh & Scottish.

History

Rail Express Systems was launched at Crewe Diesel TMD in October 1991. 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.
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, Low Fell, Warrington, Doncaster, Bristol Parkway, Tonbridge and Wembley PRDC as well as dedicated platforms at Stafford. RES was responsible for haulage of the Royal Train.
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. The latter's bid was successful, the sale taking effect on 9 December 1995 with 164 locomotives and 677 wagons included. In 1996 the business was integrated into English Welsh & Scottish.

Mid 1990s routes

Parcels Sector rolling stock

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In the same period, Class 325 EMUs were introduced and the entire parcels and mails fleet was refurbished or withdrawn.
ClassImageNumberPower
Class 08Diesel Shunter
Class 31Diesel Locomotive
Class 47Diesel Locomotive
Class 86AC Electric Locomotive
Class 905AC Electric Locomotive
Class 1059DMU
Class 11410DMU
Class 12010DMU
Class 12723DMU
Class 1285DMU
Class 3026EMU
Class 3083EMU
Class 32516EMU

Coach TypeImageNumberNotes
NAA - Propelling Control Vehicle24
NBA - Brake Gangwayed
NDX - Brake Gangwayed
NEX - Brake Gangwayed
NHA - Brake Gangwayed
NIA - Brake Gangwayed
NJX - General Utility Van
NKA - General Utility Van
NLX - Newspaper Van
NNX - Courier Vehicle
NPX - General Utility Van
NOA - General Utility Van
NRA - Container Van
NSA - Post Office Sorting Van10+
NTA - Post Office Stowage Van
NUA - Brake Post Office Stowage Van