A 1965 Scammell tractor has been restored and turned into a gem of a bright red truck, which will serve as a mobile post office, as well as an attraction as it tours various localities.
Addressing a press conference in Great Siege Square in Valletta, where the vintage mobile post office was displayed yesterday, MaltaPost chairman Joe Said explained that the vehicle is kitted out with all the necessary facilities, including air-conditioning, lighting and computer points, just like any other post office.
It will serve as a means of strengthening MaltaPost’s presence around the island by offering a service in a pleasant and historical setting.
Following 24 months of dedicated restoration work carried out by experienced restorer and bus body builder Manual Cutajar of Żinnu Bus and Coach Works, the vehicle is now in tip-top condition and has been purposely re-built to reflect the needs of MaltaPost clients. It will be a one-stop-shop for the company’s services and will be scheduled to visit various locations throughout the week, including high-visibility tourist areas.
The Scammell tractor previously belonged to Simonds Farsons Cisk Ltd, which used it to tow a variety of trailers for inner-zone transport and local deliveries. Such tractors were a popular and familiar sight in the 1970s and 1980s, and were well cared-for by Farsons, but were eventually replaced by more modern vehicles.
The original design was retained and the restoration gave it a beautiful bright red paint job to reflect its new role as a post office.
Transport Minister Austin Gatt also addressed yesterday’s press conference, noting that while people now send much fewer letters due to developments in electronic communication, there has been a significant increase in the number of packages delivered, since many people buy several items online nowadays.
To the government, an efficient postal network is fundamentally important from an economic point of view, said Dr Gatt, adding that the postal service has remained relevant.
There are more than 600,000 post offices around the world, and 439 billion letters and six billion packages are delivered annually, and Malta is no exception. In fact MaltaPost delivers 124,000 items (letters and packages) every day.
Dr Gatt said that the relevance and importance of the postal sector was confirmed in a survey that had been undertaken by the Malta Communications Authority. This had shown that 72% of the respondents often use the services offered at post offices, and 90% are satisfied with the level of service and facilities.
The minister went on to note that the service will be completely liberalised as from next year. This is set to improve the efficiency of the way letters and packages are delivered, potentially result in new services and make the market more competitive, said Dr Gatt.
A special hand postmark was used at the mobile post office yesterday, and MaltaPost will be further marking the roll-out by issuing a personalised stamp/cover featuring the restored 1965 Scammel. Orders for the special hand postmark may be placed online at www.maltaphilately.com or by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost plc, 305, Triq Ħal Qormi, Marsa MTP 1001 (Tel. 2596-1740, email [email protected].