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LRB blog

Off their (Electric) Trolleys

Roy Mayall

I’ve just heard this from a colleague. He’s been told by one of the managers that as part of the modernisation programme we're all going to get new electric trolleys. I wish you could hear the sounds of scornful laughter coming out of all the delivery offices up and down the country. Electric trolleys no less! It’s a hoot. How much are they planning to spend on that, I wonder? How many new mechanics are they going to take on for when they – inevitably – break down?

Me, I like my bike. It’s simple and it’s efficient, it’s robust and old-fashioned, it keeps me fit, and Tom – the bike mechanic – does a great job of keeping it in good condition. So who takes all the profit for all the new electric trolleys they’re going to foist on us, regardless of whether we want them or not? Not the Royal Mail, that’s for certain. Now can you see where all the profits are disappearing to?

royal mail transport

Comments

  • 20 October 2009 at 10:10am
    Martin says:
    Roy,
    Do you know whether your trolleys will include stun guns to deal with pesky dogs?
    • 20 October 2009 at 11:00am
      Martin says: @ Martin
      And are they all-terrain 4x4 fitted with sat-nav? I ask because I live up here in Todmorden at the end of quite a steep and rough footpath. Some deliverymen have had difficulty getting through.
  • 20 October 2009 at 11:07am
    Roy Mayall says:
    That's a good idea. And hover boots so we don't have to open gates any more.
  • 22 October 2009 at 5:52pm
    Thorby Bislam says:
    Roy, i'm a postie in a medium-sized town. We have one of these electric trolleys. It's about half as big again as a HCT and twice as heavy. The guy who uses it has been given a four hour walk against everybody elses three and half hour walks. You can see what the thinking here is. It does go uphill better though.
  • 8 September 2010 at 11:48am
    geoffwhite247 says:
    We're covering this for Channel 4 News this evening - can anyone tell me the manufacturer of the electric trolley? Just so we're not barking up the wrong tree.

    Also, does anyone have experience of using electric vehicles? I know Essex was experimenting with an eletric delivery vehicle...

    I can be reached at geoff.white@itn.co.uk.

    Thanks - look forward to hearing from you.

    Geoff.