Royal Mail Unveils £500M Plan to Boost Mail Delivery

Royal Mail announced a £500 million investment plan on Wednesday to enhance its letter delivery performance across the United Kingdom, while confirming changes to eliminate second-class mail deliveries on Saturdays. The overhaul, set to begin rolling out nationwide next month pending consultation with union members, stems from a recent agreement with the Communication Workers Union that resolved a long-standing dispute over second-class service reforms.

Under the revised model, second-class letters will be delivered on alternate weekdays, with three days one week and two the next, replacing the previous Saturday service. First-class and parcel deliveries remain unaffected. The changes aim to address persistent delays that have frustrated customers amid rising stamp prices. A first-class stamp increased by 10 pence to £1.80 on April 7, while a second-class stamp rose by 4 pence to 91 pence.

Royal Mail, owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky since his acquisition of parent company International Distributions Services last year, has struggled to meet regulatory standards. In October, the company received a record £21 million fine from Ofcom after delivering only 77 percent of...