Following a successful trial, ‘Parcels as Passengers’, a project that sees medical packages delivered on passenger services, is planned for expansion.
In collaboration with TransPennine Express, Northern, Network Rail and ICRF, the DFTO project has enabled freight consignments to be securely taken on board trains and delivered to their intended destinations.
The first phase of the project saw pathology and DNA samples moved between Middlesbrough and Manchester Victoria, and between Leeds and Manchester Victoria.
A second phase is planned for 2026, with TransPennine Express working through safety protocols and licensing and gaining support from Trade Unions.
This phase will use a new storage method utilising different routes and fleets over longer distances.
“We’re proud to be part of this innovative project. After proving the idea works on a small scale, we’re now moving into the next phase to test whether it can become a model that benefits communities and supports rail industry growth.
“We’ll be working closely with colleagues, trade unions, and partners to make it happen. This initiative will also help drive greener travel by taking vehicles off the road and reducing emissions, something we’re deeply committed to as part of TransPennine Express’s goal to create a more sustainable future for rail.”
Chris Jackson, managing director at TransPennine Express
Responses
This is Excellent! The passenger rail network has huge potential as a trunk network for inter-city small parcels delivery, with pedal-power and electric micromobility providing the first and last mile. Which TOC will be next to allow this latent opportunity to be exploited?
Bit like Red Star then!
Red Star parcels was an excellent service, killed off by the Thatcher regime of the time , following pressure from private parcel companies.
Why not? Rail companies treat passengers like parcels, so why not the other way round?
WOW trains taking parcels, next buses will be taking parcels as well as trams, what a modern age we live in, I can remember back in the 80’s going to the Red Star Parcels depot to collect urgent parcels sent the same day in only a few hours from many miles away.
There’s nothing new about this – the British Rail “Red Star” parcel service carried parcels of all sorts (not just medical ones) on passenger trains.
Calling it “Parcels as Passengers” suggests it’s a new idea when it isn’t!
They could call this new service “Red Star Parcels”
I was thinking the same.