Taxi Driver Online

£4,000,000 on 1,000 taxis? that's £4000 per taxi;but have they discovered the source?
It appears not,if they have,why not make it public? Owners (customers) deserve that.

As for ''To rebuild driver confidence in the TX4, LTI will also fit a fire suppression system '',this confirms there is still some doubt about the source.

I wonder how much these 'improvements' will add to running costs?
For example,how often does the 'fire suppression (not extinguishing!) system' need servicing or replacing.

The PCO will have a field day at overhauls.

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Charlton's lost past http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFKWGlrze0
London's future? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... rants.html

Interesting and (for the Murdoch owned Times) positive story about cab trade at
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/b ... 834255.ece

For once,they may have got their facts right.
Maybe they checked them before going to press...

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Charlton's lost past http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFKWGlrze0
London's future? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... rants.html

The LTI website tell us BBC London have got it wrong about the number of taxis 'pulled'
so does http://www.thelondondailynews.com/londo ... -1436.html

but the BBC haven't changed the story on their website http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7638730.stm

Also a classic case of Murdoch's News International getting it wrong can be seen at http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... 741008.ece

All this goes to show you cannot believe all you read and hear in the media especially when it comes to the cab trade.

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Charlton's lost past http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFKWGlrze0
London's future? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... rants.html

Further information can be found on www.tfl.gov.uk/pco or by calling 020 7126 1980

Does anyone else get this message when you ring this number?

"The number you called is busy"?

I'm not surprised but if anyone gets an answer from this guy in respect of the PCO position please let us know.

If you do phone the number don't forget to ask the precise questions,

"has the defect been pinpointed to one particular part"?

"What is the precise problem"?

"What are the symptoms"?

"Has LTI guaranteed the vehicles will be fit for purpose once the proposed modifications have been implemented"?

"Will the PCO be issuing a notice outlining their position and agreement with the LTI remedy and if so when"?

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

well I finally got through and I'm told the precise problem was caused by the pipe breaking so there you have it. Everyone can now rest assured that everything else on the TX4 is working properly.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

This is the latest PCO resonse to the situation.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/businessandpartne ... /9457.aspx

An extract from the response.

The PCO has been informed that LTI has identified the cause of the recent fires in TX4s. All affected owners will be contacted by LTI in order to programme the remedial work required. Licences remain suspended until the work has been carried out and certification issued by LTI. Further details are available via the LTI website. The PCO enquiry line at 020 7126 1980 will re-open at 09:00 on Monday 29 September.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

JD, did you get this from the PCO or LTI. Our Licensing Officer has been told no such thing by the PCO and he (and I) await completion of a meeting between LTI and PCO with an announcement due "Late" today.

Has anyone admitted any liability to you or to anyone else for that matter if the reason "has" been determined?

Is the news story on the BBC from Friday to be believed http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7638730.stm or is it just a good story.

If it is right, could more cabs come off and does it eventually include the last one off the line to date?



Incidentally I have a fire suppression system in my Charter Boat. The Haylon Substitute ('cause haylon aint allowed anymore) is bloomin expensive stuff, who pays for the ongoing maintenance and cylinder replacement?

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Chris The Fish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdlyi5mc ... re=related

The PCO statement is up on the TFL website and LTI have already acknowledged liability in their press release.

Regards

JD

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

This has just appeared on the LTDA site.

TX4 CRISIS
URGENT UPDATE

The Public Carriage Office have announced at 1600hrs today (Friday 3rd October 2008 that they have approved the modifications to the affected TX4’s and that they will re-license all those cabs currently off the road as soon as the re-fit is complete.

There will be an announcement posted on the PCO website as soon as possible and all affected drivers will be notified by post.

London Taxis International will be contacting drivers with an appointment slot.

The following telephone numbers may be helpful:

LTI: 0247 657 2000
M&O’s: 0207 700 0888
PCO Information Line: 0207 126 1980

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IDFIMH

I wonder how long that will last, if one thats had the mods done goes up

It will.

Give it 18-21 month, possibly sooner, as the affected EGR pipe is now encased in heat protective materials, so the heat generation/build-up will be exaggerated as there will be nowhere for the heat to escape, & I am sure the problems will re-surface.

Once an inherently bad design ALWAYS an inherently bad design!!

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Brummie Cabbie wrote:-

''Give it 18-21 month, possibly sooner, as the affected EGR pipe is now encased in heat protective materials, so the heat generation/build-up will be exaggerated as there will be nowhere for the heat to escape, & I am sure the problems will re-surface. ''

This was my immediate reaction to LTI's solution.
If heat is the problem dissipate it, not contain it which is what LTI solution does.

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Charlton's lost past http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFKWGlrze0
London's future? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... rants.html

TX4 Black Cabs To Go On Road Again

3rd October 2008

The Public Carriage Office (PCO) today confirmed that the suspension of TX4 taxi licences will be lifted when remedial works are completed by London Taxis International (LTI).

The cab licences of all TX4s with a 56 registration or a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) between 200001 and 201000 were suspended following a number of fires involving early production models of the taxi. LTI have developed a programme of remedial works which they consider, when complete, will minimise the risk of under bonnet fires. The licence suspension will be lifted as soon as individual vehicles have been certified by LTI as having undergone the necessary modifications.

LTI will be contacting all TX4 owners to arrange an appointment for them to bring in their vehicle for remedial works. They will be working 24 hours a day to process all vehicles as quickly as possible. Vehicles will be processed in ascending VIN order, with those cabs in the range 200001 to 201500 (which includes all TX4s with a 56 registration) being treated as a priority. Eventually all TX4s will undergo these remedial works.

Ed Thompson, Director of Taxi & Private Hire at the PCO, said: “This has been a really tough time for drivers, and I’m glad that we now have a solution. LTI have assured me they will be working around the clock to get as many cabs back on the roads as quickly as possible.

“Taxis in London have an excellent safety record. We’re satisfied that the work LTI will be carrying out will minimise any risks to drivers, passengers and other road users.”

The PCO brought in an independent fire safety expert who has confirmed the remedial works proposed by LTI will significantly reduce the risk of under bonnet fires, making these vehicles acceptable for use in passenger service.

The problems with the TX4 has been an issue that has concerned the entire black cab community and with initial reaction to this annoucement summed up by one cab driver "good work Boris and PCO!"


Source; The London Daily News

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Not entirely totally re-assuring words, IMO!

What about the wording that we would all have expected;

The PCO brought in an independent fire safety expert who has confirmed the remedial works proposed by LTI will totally eliminate the risk of under bonnet fires, making these vehicles entirely fit for purpose for use in passenger service.

_________________
Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

The heating issue intrigues me.
In previous posts,a driver has stated the VM engine was rejected by the Italian army because it was running too hot,yet still LTI used it.
Before the fires,'angrycabbie' on YouTube complained about amongst other things,'heat,heat,heat'.So have other drivers.
I don't think any work is hotter for an engine than taxi work especially in London where average speed is about 11mph.
Why did LTI enlarge the front grill from the TX11 to TX4?
To overcome the heat problems they already knew about?

This should be taken into account when LTI try to pass the buck onto VM.

LTI knew they where getting an engine that would run hot,especially in London and other cities and making the front grill bigger for improved air flow hasn't worked.

This story is go to run,run and run...

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Charlton's lost past http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsFKWGlrze0
London's future? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... rants.html