Taxi Driver Online

Spalding Guardian

October 2, 2006

HEADLINE: Station taxi service starts in November

AS uncertainty mounts over the future of Spalding Railway Station, commuters have been told that an early morning taxi service to Peterborough will start in November.

Spalding Taxis is to offer a door-to-door service to take commuters directly to the station to catch the 6.53am train to London.

Around 12 people have already declared a keen interest but problems have arisen as passengers will return home at different times in the evening.

Full details of how the scheme will work are being finalised. Spalding Taxi's owner Mark Lawrence said that the service would definitely go ahead, even if a loss is recorded early on. He added: "At the end of the day it is down to numbers but people will not come until the service is operating. "There will not be a massive profit at the early stage but it should be self-financing. If the numbers come in it will be fine.

"There is a demand from people in Spalding and the figure we talked about is 80 people. "If we achieve that it would be very nice but it is not necessary. "We have to tackle the problem of getting people home at different times but I am hoping to use existing services to make this more flexible."

The service has been proposed to help rail users escape the massive 82 per cent increase in parking charges at the station, which saw the cost of annual season tickets soar from £594 to £1,080 in July, with daily charges rising from £5.50 to £10.

The route will leave Spalding and pick up in Deeping St Nicholas. Commuters living outside those areas can book the taxi for an extra charge.

Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum chairman George Scott is encouraged by the response but believes more people are needed if the service is to be a success.

Speaking at the last forum meeting he said: "I think it is a wonderful idea as we have so many people who catch the 7.20am train to London from Peterborough.

"I think it is good value at £10 return. "You would not get that from driving and paying to park."

The taxi will charge £10 return from Spalding and £8 return from Deeping St Nicholas, with passengers booking their place the day before.

Anyone interested in the taxi service should visit the website at spaldingtransportforum.co.uk or call Spalding Taxis on 01775 722115.
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We've highlighted this activity before but I think its catching on throughout the country. lol.
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K Newsquest Regional Press - This is Essex

October 2, 2006 Monday

HEADLINE: Colchester: We know not to drink and drive...now you can drink and scoot

BYLINE: Tom Parkes

DATELINE: Gazette

Off-licence bosses are toasting their latest venture - an innovative two-wheeled taxi service.

Colchester-based company Scoot and Drive pledges to ferry customers home in their own cars, after sending drivers to destinations within 25 miles on fold-up scooters which are small enough to fit in the boot.

The firm's founders also run Barrack Street store, the Beer Tent, and boss Mark Livermore joked: "Now we can get you drunk and then get you home afterwards!"
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As far as I'm aware there is no proposal to axe the train service between spalding and peterborough but they had better watch out GNER is already running taxi buses from and to Peterborough train station if they see a similar service succeeding they might start up in direct competition with that one as well