I can understand a taxi within a city or 20 or so miles, but my point is a 4 hour trip of 200 miles is unacceptable. I have also been put on a taxi when my train arrived late and I missed my connection, but that was as a passenger not someone who was about to take a train out and travel at 100 + MPH with a lot of passengers onboard.

I work for EWS and we use taxi's all the time. Usually on local trips of just a few miles, but I have been in a taxi all the way to Healey Mills Yard and Rotherham from Tees quite a lot. The longest taxi ride I've had was from Toton near Nottingham to Tees, but that was cos I'd got there too late to catch the last train home.

The reason I mentioned Manchester Victoria to Manchester Piccadilly is because a taxi is probably 3 times the charge of a tram. Maybe a taxi should be used in an emergency if staff need to quickly transfer between stations. However, most of the time I wouldn't think it matters.

Would have thoght it would be quicker on the tram with all the traffic arround !

It would depend on how long you had to wait for a tram. I've had to wait half an hour at he most, so in those circumstances it'd be quicker to get a taxi. However, ther are times when you don't have to wait at all.

It's all well and good saying that drivers should try and take public transport instead of taxis,

What most people don't realise is the amount of kit a driver is supposed to carry around with him/her, let me tell you that it can weigh what feels like a ton when you have to carry it for a distance.

Les

There should be a tram between Victoria and Piccadilly every 12 minutes. However, most conductors would be capable of walking between St. Peters Square and Piccadilly (trams between Victoria and St. Peters Square should be every 6 minutes.

Why don't rail companys buy cars and employ their own drivers instead of using taxis, or would that be more expensive than hiring taxis.

It would cost far too much. Think of the running costs, then you would need three drivers plus some extra ones to cover days off, sick. holidays, hangovers etc. You would also need more than one car so as to cover servicing, breakdowns, accidents and two cars may be needed at the same time going to diffrent places. No a taxi or public transport is far cheaper.

Hi Syd but are cheaper options always the best.