Mail Rail - Rediscovering London’s Old Post Office Railway

The streets of London are always filled with buses, cars and people busy with their daily transactions. The cityscape has changed through the years, with new and modern buildings and vehicles that continue to amaze both the visitors and London residents alike. But beneath the capital’s streets is a 6-mile tunnel that plays host to an almost-forgotten mode of transportation - the London Post Office Railway, or affectionately called the Mail Rail. Erected more than a century ago by an act of the Parliament, the Mail Rail was primarily used to carry almost 12 million postal items starting from White Chapel in the East End to Paddington in the West.

Getting ready for tourists

The train was just one of the dozen trains in the tube platform but this one was special, and in a few years tourists will be able to experience the thrill in riding in this train. When the train was in full use for carrying mail, it ran on 23 miles worth of track at an average speed of 40 miles per hour. The ride inside the train is something to look forward to. As the train moves on the track, you can get close to the tunnel walls and appreciate the stalactites that have formed on the roof.

A number of proposals have been submitted that would allow guests to board the train at Mount Pleasant and experience the mail train ride. But to make this happen, the organizers must raise at least £2m to boost Heritage Lottery funding.

For many, the plans to open the train for visitors are a welcome development. The rail network has been described by many as an exciting area for underground explorers, and some even take the extra step to say that this is one of the best-kept secrets of the Post Office.

Mail rail in movies

Aside from its tasks of carrying millions of letters for many decades, the mail rail has also found itself in movies. The mail rail was used in the movie ‘Hudson Hawk’ that starred Bruce Willis. The scenes were shot in the Mail Rail depot which was presented in the movie as Vatican’s own version of a secret railway.

All the history and stories about the mail rail will come to life again to guests and London residents in 2020, when the proposal is approved and implemented.