Station taxi rank saved following pressure from local MP

Virgin Trains and Network Rail have today agreed to scrap plans to vastly reduce the size of the taxi rank at Oxenholme Train Station.

Local taxi drivers had been left up in arms following the news that the number of taxi rank slots were set to be slashed from five to two. The plans had been labelled "unhelpful" for the public and "unfair" on taxi drivers by South Lakes MP Tim Farron.

This morning Tim organised a meeting between the taxi drivers and the rail authorities, who agreed to drop the plans after hearing how seriously drivers and passengers would be affected.

Tim said: "I'm delighted that today Virgin Trains and Network Rail have agreed to drop these plans.

"We understand that there are problems with traffic and parking at the station, but these unfair proposals would have done nothing to tackle these issues - there is no way that two taxi spots would be enough when you have a train full of tourists turning up at once.

"Taxi drivers provide a valuable service to both local residents and tourists, so I want to thank the train companies for listening to their concerns today and agreeing to drop these plans".

Photo:

Tim Farron MP, Patrick Cawley from Network Rail, Darren Horley from Virgin Trains and local taxi drivers.