Cabbies' anger at rail 'snub' (From Gazette & Herald)

Cabbies' anger at rail 'snub'

MALTON taxi drivers are angry and feel snubbed after a train operator imported fleets of cabs from York to help them get Ryedale commuters to work.

Trains from Malton were cancelled on Monday morning after track repair work by Transpenine Express, due to finish on Sunday, ran over deadline.

But when alternative transport was arranged for passengers, including taxis and buses, many Ryedale taxi firms were overlooked.

Executive Taxis, based in Malton, was one of the few firms offered work. Driver Paterakis Mamorlis was appalled to see taxis flooding in from York.

"I was taking some people down to York from the 8am train and we could see all these taxis heading for Malton passing us at Flaxton," he said. "That adds an extra 25 minutes waiting time for these people, and there are all these taxis in Malton that have never even been asked."

Transpennine company spokesman, David Mallender said that the firm employs the transport management company Fraser Eagle to provide alternative transport when trains aren't running.

"It's a massive network. Rather than someone sitting in Malton Station with a phonebook, we employ Fraser Eagle to provide quick, available and 24-hour services, with a proven track record."

He added: "In terms of getting the right buses and taxis at the right time, firms need to be putting themselves forward to Fraser Eagle if they want the business."

Updated: 11:12 Wednesday, March 22, 2006