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Something to be avoided at Victoria station (London)
Two weeks ago I had a train to catch from Victoria to
Gatwick Airport at 03:30. Victoria is a largish station with something like 17 platforms. A nasty little service road leads up to a load/drop off place on the roof. There are escalators down. These used to be signed Gatwick Express but now just say Trains and you can get to anywhere from them. The Taxi dropped me of at 03:15 and left. Then I discovered the doors in where locked. No help, no one to ask. A load of luggage. Hassle like this I do not need. Rising blood pressure and I go down the nasty little service road, there is nobody about to ask so I arbitrarily choose to keep turning right in see if that get me to an entrance. It turns out to have been the right choice(!). They had closed all the entrances except the main one which was opened about a metre so a group of officials could check everybody going in. Whether this was a one off security check or a regular thing I do not know. It has left me damn angry at the sheer stupidity and thoughtlessness involved. Why no sign? Why not close the service road, anything but that. Seems typical the a rail system in this country. In future I will insist that Taxi drivers take me to the main entrance. Will I'm sounding off, does anybody know why London Taxi drivers tell you they will take you to the airport for the same as the rail fare? It happened again this time. Driver: "Same as rail fare - £41" Me: "But the rail fare £9 something. Driver: silence Noises Off |
#2
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Something to be avoided at Victoria station (London)
Sounds like London taxi drivers are not what they used to be. Pity. They were the most professional and honest in Europe about 20 years ago. John Bermont http://www.enjoy-europe.com/ Noises Off wrote: Driver: "Same as rail fare - £41" Me: "But the rail fare £9 something. Driver: silence Noises Off |
#3
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Something to be avoided at Victoria station (London)
On 7 Oct 2006 17:33:05 -0700, "John Bermont"
wrote: Sounds like London taxi drivers are not what they used to be. Pity. They were the most professional and honest in Europe about 20 years ago. I really liked using the illegal cabs a few years back. From Camden to Hammersmith they always asked £15, and I'd always get them down to £13. Then when we arrived, I threw them £15 and said 'Keep the tip'. -- --- DFM - http://www.deepfriedmars.com --- -- |
#4
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Something to be avoided at Victoria station (London)
Dave Frightens Me wrote:
On 7 Oct 2006 17:33:05 -0700, "John Bermont" wrote: Sounds like London taxi drivers are not what they used to be. Pity. They were the most professional and honest in Europe about 20 years ago. I don't know how they compare to the rest of Europe, but London black cabs are still professional and honest. The OP had an unusual experience, and ought to complain. I really liked using the illegal cabs a few years back. Do you mean minicabs? Most of them are legal- some illegally pick up off the street (you're meant to phone for them, or book at a minicab office.) I also never had a problem with them, and did sometimes pick them up on the street. If the OP was using a black cab, it would be an unusually bad experience. The cabs are expensive, but very reliable and honest IME. The OP ought to complain, as I suggested, as those complaints are taken seriously. Even if a minicab company, a complaint would be worth it. -- David Horne- http://www.davidhorne.net usenet (at) davidhorne (dot) co (dot) uk http://www.davidhorne.net/pictures.html http://soundjunction.org |
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