Abandoned mail rail london

The abandoned Mail Rail in London! That's a fascinating topic.

Mail Rail, also known as the London Post Office Railway, was a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) underground railway that connected the General Post Office in London to the main mail sorting offices in the city. The railway was built in the 1920s and operated from 1927 to 2003, when it was closed due to declining mail volumes and the increasing use of road transport.

Here are some interesting facts about the abandoned Mail Rail:

  1. History: The idea of an underground railway for mail was first proposed in the late 19th century, but it wasn't until the 1920s that the project was finally realized. The railway was designed to reduce congestion on London's streets and improve the efficiency of mail delivery.
  2. Route: The Mail Rail ran from the General Post Office in Mount Pleasant to the Western Mail Centre in Paddington, with several intermediate stops at major mail sorting offices. The railway was built using a unique "cut-and-cover" method, where a trench was dug and then covered with a brick arch.
  3. Trains: The Mail Rail used small, electric trains with a top speed of about 20 mph (32 km/h). Each train had six cars, and they were designed to carry mailbags and parcels.
  4. Abandonment: The Mail Rail was closed in 2003 due to declining mail volumes and the increasing use of road transport. The railway was deemed uneconomical to maintain, and the decision was made to abandon it.
  5. Current state: Today, much of the Mail Rail tunnel is abandoned and has been left to decay. However, some sections have been repurposed as storage facilities or even converted into art spaces. The abandoned tunnels have also become a popular spot for urban explorers and photographers.
  6. Future plans: There have been proposals to reopen the Mail Rail as a tourist attraction or even a commuter railway, but these plans are still in the early stages.

If you're interested in exploring the abandoned Mail Rail, be aware that it's not a safe or legal activity. The tunnels are often dark, damp, and hazardous, and there are risks of injury or getting trapped. It's best to appreciate the Mail Rail from the outside or through photographs and videos taken by urban explorers.

Would you like to know more about the history of the Mail Rail or its potential future developments?