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New taxis shine in Blackburn fleet
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By MartinW at 2007-12-13 21:15
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March 13 2006
New taxis shine in Blackburn fleet
Three London-style cabs have gone into service in Blackburn for the first time.
The LTI Vehicles TXIIs are the first of their kind in the Lancashire town, which has a 64-strong fleet of older Fairways cabs and one TX1 – the predecessor to the TXII.
The latest incarnation of the iconic black cab is widely regarded as the most socially-inclusive taxi ever, featuring an integral wheelchair ramp, a built-in swivel seat to aid access and exit by less mobile passengers, an induction loop for the hard of hearing, bright yellow seat edge and grab handles to aid use by the partially-sighted, and even a child safety harness.
The three Blackburn vehicles are already turning heads and it is hoped the impact they are having on local trade could jump-start a rejuvenation of the town’s taxis.
Proud new owner Mohammed Azeem said: ""I am very happy with my new cab.
"It is really nice to drive and the passengers like it. I’m glad I bought it."
The used vehicles were supplied by Mann & Overton Manchester, the official LTI Vehicles dealer in the area.
Stephen Morgan, Sales Manager at Mann & Overton Manchester, said: "Blackburn is a small, quiet town so the demand for taxis is perhaps not as strong as it is in many places which is why the taxis there are slightly older than average.
"We have been showing drivers there the new TXII for some time in a bid to get some newer vehicles into the town and hopefully spark a revival of the fleet, and it looks like it is starting to happen now.
"We have sold two to owner-drivers and we hope this will be the start of a trend towards phasing out the older vehicles and replacing them with newer ones.
"The fact that they are the most efficient model yet and totally accessible for the disabled has to be a good thing for Blackburn."
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has set strict rules that any additional or replacement Hackney carriages in the town have to be under three years old and fully-wheelchair-accessible.
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