sorting methods used onboard RES' fleet of travelling post offices (TPOs) meant that the latter was becoming increasingly uneconomic regardless of the structural changes being made. As part of the privatisation of British Rail, RES was the first freight company put up for sale, with bids lodged by Freightliner, a management buyout, Serco and a Wisconsin Central led a consortium known as North and South railways. The latter's bid was successful, the sale taking effect on 9 December 1995 with 164 locomotives and 677 wagons included. In 1996, the business was integrated into English Welsh & Scottish (EWS), ceasing to exist as a separate entity. Rail-based mail traffic continued to decline following the integration. A further factor that negatively impacted such operations was the Hatfield rail crash during October 2000, which led to numerous restrictions being imposed upon TPOs, including new speed limitations and numerous cancellations across many routes. There were also rising concerns over the safety of staff, as there was little consideration towards the crashworthiness or the wellbeing of the TPO's occupants in the event of a major accident. Furthermore, the Royal Mail had increasingly decided to make use of other means of transporting mail, including aircraft and road vehicles. Amid these various factors, during 2003, it was announced that Royal Mail had decided to suspend all transportation of mail by rail. Mid 1990s routes Parcels Sector rolling stock The late 1980s and early 1990s saw many changes to the Rail Express Systems fleet, with the cessation of the usage of Class 105s by 1987, Class 114s by 1990, Class 120s by 1987, Class 127s by 1989, Class 128s by 1990, Class 302s by 1996 and Class 308s by 1989. In the same period, Class 325 EMUs were introduced and the entire parcels and mails fleet (except the travelling post office stock) was refurbished or withdrawn. References General references Rail Magazine Issue 159 Motive Power Pocket books pub. Platform 5 British Multiple Units Volume 1 and Volume 3 British Rail brands British Rail freight services DB Cargo UK Rail freight companies in the United Kingdom Railway companies established in 1982 Railway companies disestablished in 1996 1982 establishments in the United Kingdom 1996 disestablishments in the United Kingdom