The Mail Rail, a little-known underground railway running beneath the streets of London, will open to the public in early 2017 as part of a new Postal Museum.
The railway, which began operation in 1927, was the world's first driverless, electric railway, linking sorting offices from Paddington to Whitechapel. It closed in 2003 as the sorting offices it served were sold off, but after years of fundraising it is set to open to the public for the first time.
Two new Mail Rail trains will be built to carry passengers 1km into the network on a loop from the new Postal Museum near the Royal Mail sorting office at Mount Pleasant.
Visitors to the underground railway, which lies about 70 feet below the streets of London, will spend around 15 minutes on trains following a small loop of the much larger network. The trains aren't able to venture any further into the tunnels due to a lack of fire exits.
During the ride, a fake power cut will be accompanied by stories and sounds of those who worked on the network. On the platforms video projection mapping will be used to tell more of the railway's history.
Historian and broadcaster Dan Snow said the history of the Royal Mail was that of "the most important social network in the history of the world".
"This is a stunning part of our industrial heritage," he added, before literally taking a sledgehammer to a wall as part of the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony. Work will now start to transform the abandoned Mail Rail into an attraction that hopes to draw 180,000 people a year.
To date, £26 million has been raised to complete the refit. Those wishing to donate to the project in a more unique way can pay £250 to have their name placed on one of the new sleepers that will support the tracks.
The Postal Museum, which will be situated across the road from the Mail Rail, will track the full 500 year history of Britain's postal network, from the first Postmaster General appointed by Henry VIII to the present day service.
Items on show will include the only remaining full sheets of Penny Black stamps in the world and the first ever pillar box, built in 1857 and coloured red rather than green.
A basic ticket, granting entry to the Postal Museum and Mail Rail exhibition will cost £9. Those wishing to ride the Mail Rail train will have to buy a full ticket, priced at £14.50 for adults.
Since it closed in 2003 the Mail Rail has been left almost untouched. In recent years just three engineers have maintained the network, a huge change from what was once a bustling part of London's postal service.
The new Postal Museum and Mail Rail will open in early 2017.
Source Sa Post Blog
