Railways (Conveyance of Mails) Act 1838

Postmaster general may require railway companies to convey the mails.

[1.] In all cases of railways already made or in progress or to be hereafter made within the United Kingdom, by which passengers or goods shall be conveyed in or upon carriages drawn or impelled by the power of steam, or by any locomotive or stationary engines, or animal or other power whatever, it shall be lawful for the postmaster general, by notice in writing under his hand delivered to the company of proprietors of any such railway, to require that the mails or post letter bags shall from and after the day to be named in any such notice (being not less than twenty-eight days from the delivery thereof) be conveyed and forwarded by such company on their railway, either by the ordinary trains of carriages, or by special trains, as need may be at such hours or times in the day or night as the postmaster general shall direct, together with the guards appointed and employed by the postmaster general in charge thereof, and any other officers of the Post Office; and thereupon the said company shall from and after the day to be named in such notice, at their own costs, provide sufficient carriages and engines on such railways for the conveyance of such mails and post letter bags to the satisfaction of the postmaster general, and receive, take up, carry, and convey by such ordinary or special trains of carriages or otherwise, as need may be, all such mails or post letter bags as shall for that purpose be tendered to them, or any of their officers, servants, or agents, by any officer of the Post Office, and also receive, take up, carry, and convey, in and upon the carriages carrying such mails or post letter bags, the guards in charge thereof, and any other officers of the Post Office, and shall receive, take up, deliver and leave such mails or post letter bags, guards, and officers at such places in the line of such railway, on such days, at such hours or times in the day, or night, and subject to all such reasonable regulations and restrictions as to speed of travelling, places, times and duration of stoppages, and times of arrival, as the postmaster general shall in that behalf from time to time order or direct: Provided always, that the rate of speed to be required shall in no case exceed the maximum rate of speed prescribed by the directors of such railway or railways for the conveyance of passengers by their first class trains; but that no alteration in the rate of speed of any train by which the mails shall be conveyed shall be made until six calendar months’ previous notice shall be given to the postmaster general of any such intended alteration.