page_title: Rail Express Systems
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Rail Express Systems / History
caption_attribution_description: English: British Rail Propelling Control Vehicle, NAA 94335 at Plymouth on 29th August 2003. This vehicle is painted in Rail Express Systems red/grey livery with light blue flashes.
context_page_description: 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.
context_section_description: 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 (Motherwell), Low Fell (Gateshead), Warrington, Doncaster, Bristol Parkway, Tonbridge and Wembley PRDC (London) 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.
caption: Rail Express Systems livery as carried by Propelling Control Vehicle no. 94335 stabled at Plymouth on 29 August 2003
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