More competitive parcels service

Press, 15 September 1987, Page 30

More competitive parcels service

Two years ago, the Railways Corporation established its Speedlink parcels service. It was an instant success and in no time Speedlink was a competitive and profitable force in the parcel transport market.

Speedlink parcels travel at attractive rates and they are delivered anywhere in New Zealand in the same service time usually offered by airlines and couriers.

In the first year of operation Speedlink’s revenue doubled that of

the old N.Z.R. parcels systems. Speedlink is operated by the Railway’s Passenger Business Group. It is a door to door pick up and delivery service for parcels up to 35kg. Parcels travel by passenger train, road coach, and freightair. Towards the end of last year Speedlink commerned a new venture using a 1942 vintage DC3 aeroplane. The DC3 was hired on a 12-month renewable contract from Classic Air, a division of Fieldair Freight Services.

The aircraft was painted in distinctive Speedlink colours and within its first week of operation it was making a profit. Good publicity was one reason for the successful launch of the venture. The DC3 aircraft also attracted considerable interest. Being an older aircraft, its operational costs are 1 high, but this is more than compensated for by the low capital cost. More recently, a second DC3 has been prepared for the Speedlink air ser-

vice. The aircraft make two flights a day between Christchurch and Wellington.

Parcels received in Christchurch by 3.00 p.m. will be available in North Island centres by 8.00 a.m. next morning. To improve transit times, all parcels are delivered free of any additional charge. The service extends to more than 180 centres throughout New Zealand.

From the end of August new pick up and delivery facilities have Improved Speedlink services. In the Christchurch area, five owner drivers have been contracted to pick up and deliver parcels at least twice daily. Mr Gordon Burrow, the Regional Marketing Manager for the N.Z.R. Passenger Business Group, says that each owner driver has a city zone to work in. Their central depot is situated at the western end of the railway station in MoorehouseAvenue.

Mr Burrow says that

there were 80 applications for the five owner driver positions. "It was. difficult to make the final choice, but we looked for people who also had experience in sales,” Mr Burrow says. . Those who won the contracts had to purchase their own vehlles. They were painted in the Speedlink colours, spring green and yellow, by the Railways. The vehicles are fitted with radio telephones and lockrup canopies. Along with the new owner driver service, Speedlink has Introduced an across-town delivery. This operates within the Christchurch - metropolitan area.

Another new Speedlink service is the'Super Saver Shorthaul which provides a special rate; for parcels moving up to 150 km. This includes Christchurch to Timaru. The shorthaul service is paid for with Super Saver coupons which are available from Speedlink offices.