Mk 3 'Lightweight' York Container - Rework & Modifications

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 858/09 -Royal Mail Letters - Mk 3 [Hartwall] 'Lightweight' York Container - Rework & Modifications:


No. 858/09
Ref C25
Date: 30 September 2009

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues

Royal Mail Letters - Mk 3 [Hartwall] 'Lightweight' York Container - Rework & Modifications:

Further to LTBs 624/09 and 362/09 this is an update and progress report to branches.

As informed in LTB 624/09 it had been agreed between Royal Mail and Hartwall's, the manufacturers, to withdraw all 26,000 plus Mk3 Lightweight [Hartwall] York Containers from the Royal Mail Letters network in order to rectify a number of manufacturing quality issues with the containers and to carry out modifications to the brake handle system. The nature of the work required that the units were returned to the manufacturers for the work to be completed at their premises.

A visit and meeting has taken place at the Hartwall's factory has taken place to look at and discuss the rework and modifications with a satisfactory outcome. The main modifications and rework are to the top front straps, casters and brake mechanism.

The plan was to remove the MK3 York Containers from Warrington Rail Terminal (WRT) where all MOR traffic ends up with the Mail Centre asked to send MOR despatches in the MK3 York containers on a daily basis.

This aim was that all MK3 York containers would be removed from the Royal Mail Network by the end of August. To date however 11,000 have been returned to Hartwall's and the work on these are nearly all completed. Further communications to Regions seeking to address and prompt the withdrawal of remaining Mk3 Yorks in the near future is being initiated by the RML National Container Manager.

A picture of the MK3 York is attached for quick reference. The Yorks will appear shinier than the previous York designs, and have a Tare Weight of 40kg, as opposed to the 50kg Tare Weight of the standard York containers.

Also attached is a copy of the manufacturer 'rework' flow diagram and work detail brief. The reworked, modified Mk3 Yorks will be identified by the fitting of green identification tape and labels when returned to service.
Royal Mail have stressed again that the MK3 York containers are completely safe to use providing the Safe System of Work (SSOW) is correctly followed.

The plan remains for the manufacturing issues to be resolved and the design changes implemented, in time for the 2009 Christmas pressure.

Any damaged MK3 Yorks should be notified through the usual York container repair process.
Any local Management problems should be referred to Mark Wythe RML National Container Manager. Tel: 07753833528. Email mark.d.wythe@royalmail.com

Yours Sincerely
Dave Joyce
CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[SpacePhoenix]

They should have dealt with this in the summer. There's not enough yorks in the system at the moment.

[andy2007]

I notice they've not bothered fixing the design flaw with the wheels. Specifically, the mounts aren't as strong as the MK I and MK II versions, and have a tendancy to bend. I've logged a few off for that myself. And they've only been in the system for a year!