MRM.COM :Construction work is now underway on our second parcel hub

Post by **POSTMAN** » 24 Sep 2020, 16:43

https://www.myroyalmail.com/news/2020/0 ... automation" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As parcel volumes continue to rise in our network, we are moving forward with our strategy to increase automation to better equip our business to take advantage of accelerating trends.

Construction work has now begun on our second parcels hub, which is situated at the Daventry International Rail Freight Interchange (DIRFT) in the East Midlands.

DIRFT is one of the most successful logistics parks in the UK. From its location in the logistics ‘golden triangle’, at the heart of the UK’s motorway and rail network, the Hub will have excellent road links to the M1 and M6 motorways, access to the West Coast Main Line, as well as many of our customers’ warehousing and fulfilment centres.

Achim Dünnwald, tell us why we need parcel hubs, and colleagues’ views on how the new hub will help the business grow.

‘We’re planning to open the Midlands Hub in 2023,’ said Achim. ‘From a customer’s point of view, Daventry is a great place as it’s where a lot of the big senders are located.

‘The site ticks many boxes, in terms of size, accessibility by road, rail and so forth. It’s also just a few miles from our National Distribution Centre (NDC).’

National network and integration director, Simon Barker, said: ‘Our second parcel hub in the Midlands will be our largest hub in the country and will really help us capitalise on parcel growth.’

Post by **midegarelu** » 24 Sep 2020, 18:06

So just to clarify, this is going to be a super hub for the Midlands and is part of RM's strategy to take on Hermes, Yodel, Amazon et al.

We are in the grips of a global pandemic which is forcing more goods to be bought on line for home delivery, hence the need for expansion.

Do the upper management really think this will solve all their problems?

With great fanfare they tell us this will open in 2023 - yes that's right in 2 and half years time.

Did they bring in Bob the builder? 2 and half years to put up a warehouse? Seriously?

By the time this opens the competition will have scooped up all available work!

Bazbuz · Post by **Bazbuz** » 25 Sep 2020, 10:22

Does anyone know when the North West hub becomes or has became operational. In Warrington I believe?

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 25 Sep 2020, 10:46

midegarelu wrote:So just to clarify, this is going to be a super hub for the Midlands and is part of RM's strategy to take on Hermes, Yodel, Amazon et al.

We are in the grips of a global pandemic which is forcing more goods to be bought on line for home delivery, hence the need for expansion.

Do the upper management really think this will solve all their problems?

With great fanfare they tell us this will open in 2023 - yes that's right in 2 and half years time.

Did they bring in Bob the builder? 2 and half years to put up a warehouse? Seriously?

By the time this opens the competition will have scooped up all available work!

It's probably the process for the design, commissioning and installation of the sorting machinery that takes the time

Post by **midegarelu** » 25 Sep 2020, 17:14

It's probably the process for the design, commissioning and installation of the sorting machinery at takes the time.

If the management were any good they would seen the explosion in Parcels at the time of privatisation and acted accordingly, not waited 5 years and then acted.

Perhaps their eyes were on the prize of shares, dividends and big (undeserved) bonuses.

Post by **afcdibby** » 25 Sep 2020, 21:00

Investment and evolution is good. Only a dinosaur would think otherwise.

Post by **1on4** » 28 Sep 2020, 07:49

Bazbuz wrote:Does anyone know when the North West hub becomes or has became operational. In Warrington I believe?

Last year

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 28 Sep 2020, 09:45

1on4 wrote:
Bazbuz wrote:Does anyone know when the North West hub becomes or has became operational. In Warrington I believe?
Last year

Have they got all the sorting machines in place or is everything sorted manually?

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 28 Sep 2020, 10:39

No matter which way you slice it two and a half years is a ridiculously long completion time in this day and age.

I can only imagine that the timescales are driven by outside factors like cost and the type of machines being installed but it certainly doesn't give the impression of a dynamic company ready to adapt to an ever changing landscape.

Perhaps in keeping with a reduction in the USO they only intend to build on certain days of the week.

Phantom · Post by **Phantom** » 29 Sep 2020, 16:16

afcdibby wrote:Investment and evolution is good. Only a dinosaur would think otherwise.

Depends on what you are investing in! No good investing in sorting centres if you haven't the delivery staff to deliver!