A Right Royal Adventure - Travelling on the Royal Mail's Postbus
If you thought the Royal Mail's only job was to deliver letters and parcels, then think again. Thanks to the Postbus service, these days Royal Mail is also delivering passengers to the more remote areas of the UK.
The distinctive red minibuses, Land Rovers and estate cars that make up the Postbus fleet carry around 125,000 passengers per year, picking them up with the mail and delivering them to spots along their route. With prices ranging from 40p to around £4 per trip, and 220 different routes to choose from, it's a method of transport that's as economical as it is environmentally friendly. No wonder the Postbus has become popular with budget-conscious travellers and local people alike.
For some of those living in the more remote areas of the UK, the Postbus is the only method of public transport available for those who don't drive, providing a vital link to civilization. For travellers, it's a different and unique way to visit spots that might otherwise have been hard to reach - and, of course, to benefit from the wide local knowledge of the drivers, who will often be able to fill passengers in on local stories, legends and traditions of the type you just don't find in guide books.
The Postbus itself is not a new idea. Back in the 17th century, the Post Chaise, which delivered letters and passengers across Britain, was that century's answer to public transport, and you'll find many references to "travelling post" in the literature of the time. Although today's version of the Post Chaise is considerably more comfortable than its predecessor, the Postbus still offers an air of adventure and camaraderie amongst passengers, which you just don't find on most methods of modern public transport.
On most routes, mail is collected and delivered twice per day, with travellers able to board the bus at any point along its route. Remember, however, that the bus may not use the same route for each journey, so check the schedule carefully if you're relying on it for your ride home! It's particularly important to check the Postbus schedule if you're thinking of travelling to a particularly remote area, where there may be only one mail delivery per day. The Postbus schedule can be found at www.royalmail.com/postbus, and as mail is normally delivered in the morning, passengers should be prepared for an early start!
The highest concentration of Postbus routes are found in Scotland and Wales, but there are also plenty of routes to explore in areas such as Cumbria, Northumbria, and Yorkshire, as well as in the Midlands, East Anglia and Kent.
The Postbus provides a leisurely and relaxed way to travel and a unique opportunity to truly get away from it all - thankfully, it doesn't stop at every house along the route to deliver mail.
For more information on the Postbus, including routes and fares, contact the Royal Mail Postbus Helpline on 08457 740740.
