Royal Mail updates to new delivery schedule
Royal Mail has announced a new delivery schedule for second-class post, moving from a confirmed 14-day target to a more flexible three-day service. The company will only deliver deliveries from Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or on Tuesdays and Thursdays, per the press release. Additionally, Saturday delivery has been eliminated in light of new developments to retain efficiency and cost-effective delivery.
Royal Mail continues to deliver first-class letters six days a week, delivering 90% of letters arriving on time, as per the product specs. However, they have introduced a plan to allow 99% of second-class letters to be delivered within two business days, building on stricter targets moving from 90% next-day delivery to 99%.
Royal Mail’s cost structure has also been affected, with stamp prices increasing from 85p to £1.70. The company has claimed these price hikes are necessary to reduce costs while maintaining profitability, having already been fined by Ofcom for underdelivering services.
The new policy on second-class delivery is seen by many as a sinkstone for the postal service, and Royal Mail is adjusting its delivery targets to the 99% mark to ensure letters are delivered on time. This raises questions about how Royal Mail will prioritize its services to meet the growing demand for first-class mail, while still maintaining competitive delivery standards.
To stay in business, Royal Mail has drawn on their existing network, urging unions and post offices to align with their values and operational expectations. The government also press the regulator to reform the postal service to better serve public needs. For the latest updates, subscribe to Metro’s News Updates newsletter.
The postal service’s public image remainsScoreless, with calls for Royal Mail to deliver on time and efficiently to Platforms, and to continue to support the integration of all postal services. The switch to first-class delivery is vital for maintaining accessibility and competition, but it reflects a broader strategic shift in how Royal Mail seeks to enhance the postal system.
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