Call to reinstate axed post buses

[NewsCaster]

A group made up of councillors and an MSP is hoping to convince Royal Mail to restore five rural post bus services.

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[Western SMT]

Post buses were introduced more than 40 years ago. In 1967, in the aftermath of major cuts to rural rail services across many parts of the UK, Royal Mail suggested that post vehicles which criss-crossed remote rural areas could help ease public transport problems, while covering some of the costs in collecting and delivering the mail at the same time.

[G-CPTN]

A restatement of my earlier comment - the vehicle is already running to deliver the mail, so taking passengers (and recouping costs from fares) would seem to be a no-brainer IMO . . .
Admittedly a slightly different vehicle is required.

[Western SMT]

Not only Scotland

Many routes have been abandoned in Royal Mail efficiency drives, and Wales’ last three postbuses are due to end over the next few weeks.

Post buses are not unique to the UK and are also found in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. But now Royal Mail insists they make less and less financial sense here.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "All the routes being withdrawn have very low passenger numbers and the subsidies available do not make them financially viable.

So looks like Royal Mail are putting higher profits ahead of its service to rural communities.

[G-CPTN]

the subsidies available do not make them financially viable.

Post buses are not unique to the UK and are also found in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

Indeed - I first encountered Postbuses in those regions in the 1950s. Often they were full-sized buses (that also carried the mail). Big bonneted MANs, KHDs, Steyrs
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1068/...g?v=1202628905
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/4...473eb6.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/72...g?v=1175268910
http://www.postbus.at/en/Regions/Upp...tria/index.jsp
http://europeforvisitors.com/switzau...stal_buses.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postbus