Royal Mail rolling back the years to put more post on trains

Mr Thompson wants Royal Mail to roll out seven-day parcel deliveries nationwide after a successful trial.

Royal Mail is also reviewing whether to cancel Saturday letter deliveries – though any changes will require parliamentary approval. Internal research suggests that the public is in favour of a cut to five-days-a-week letter deliveries with some sections of society happy for letter deliveries to drop to just three days.

Next month will see the launch of the first of Royal Mail’s fully automated parcels hubs in Warrington.

Capable of sorting more than 600,000 parcels-a-day, the 344,000 square foot plant will use robots to sort parcels before they are delivered across the North-West of England.

The second of Royal Mail’s automated sorting hubs – in Northampton – is due to be launched by summer 2023.

Last week Royal Mail was rocked by the powerful Communication Workers Union threatening industrial action over pay rises. The company is promising increases of 3.5pc with the possibility of a further 2pc “above and beyond” bonus, taking the rise to 5.5pc.

The bonus is subject to staff hitting productivity targets. The CWU, which represents 115,000 postal workers, wants a “no strings attached” rise, however.

CWU deputy general secretary Terry Pullinger said: “We are giving them one week – and if we’re not in sight of a no-strings pay award, we’ll instigate the four-week resolution process at national level.”