Coming soon: Collect your online purchases at train stations with Doddle
Network Rail has announced the conclusion of a successful parcel collection service in Milton Keynes – and that in a joint venture with Travelex, will be rolling out “Doddle” collection shops to over 300 new locations in the next three years (which will almost certainly be at train stations).
The new venture means that when buying stuff online, if you know you’re going to be out during the day, instead of traipsing through a dank industrial estate to pick up your stuff from Amazon, having had to take time off work to get there during daylight hours, you’ll instead be able to step off the train and grab your parcel.
One of the first stores to open will be at London’s Waterloo train station – one of the busiest stations in the country, and the press release also notes that Bromley South, Brighton, Chelmsford and London Cannon Street will also be getting collection points. Apparently ASOS and New Look are some of the first online stores that have signed up – here’s hoping they’re soon joined by places that I actually buy stuff from.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen services like this. Amazon for some time now has offered a service called “Collect+”, which can deliver your goods to mostly small newsagents, and has even operated autonomous “Amazon Lockers”. Fingers crossed that the company will tie up with Doddle – as the convenience for commuters will be huge.
Network Rail claim the Doddle store will be open seven days a week “early until late”, and that stores will also be able to handle returning items too.
