We met our partner on the road just within the city limits and he guided us into their offices in Kiev where we will leave the taxi until the official introduction date in a couple of weeks time.
Matthew and I (Nigel) are proud to have completed a journey that many people thought would be difficult especially with the Customs Authorities but in truth they were no more or less demanding than any other country. The quality of roads from the border seemed to be the biggest hurdle but the nearer we got to the capital, the better the roads got. The TX4 performed impeccably
Kiev has a lot of beautiful buildings and the people are very friendly and accommodating. We hope that that they will realise that the London Taxi will add to this refinement and be a perfect transport solution too
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Hailed the world over and in Kiev!
We have lost count of the amount of times people have stuck out their hands to hail our taxi. If we were picking up fares its obvious we are the most popular taxi and everyone recognises us as a taxi.
We are close to Kiev now, its been a long day but the taxi has been amazing and coped with the roads fantastically well. Fuel economy has been in the 40's and Nigel and I are still feeling fresh. People are pointing and waving as we go past and I have never seen so many people stop and stare at the taxi. If you were an operator in Kiev operating The London Taxi Service, you would make a fortune. Bye for now stuck in a traffic queue
We are close to Kiev now, its been a long day but the taxi has been amazing and coped with the roads fantastically well. Fuel economy has been in the 40's and Nigel and I are still feeling fresh. People are pointing and waving as we go past and I have never seen so many people stop and stare at the taxi. If you were an operator in Kiev operating The London Taxi Service, you would make a fortune. Bye for now stuck in a traffic queue
Police!
Got stopped by the police again but this time there was no problem - they just wanted to look at the taxi.
We have also had people at the side of the road try to hail us as a taxi. Considering that this is the first London Taxi we have sent to Ukraine it is a testament to the vehicle that people see the taxi coming in the distance and they immediately know what it is and what to do.
The roads are slowly getting better and some even have markings now! The meter has reached 900 pounds with just under 250kms to go
We have also had people at the side of the road try to hail us as a taxi. Considering that this is the first London Taxi we have sent to Ukraine it is a testament to the vehicle that people see the taxi coming in the distance and they immediately know what it is and what to do.
The roads are slowly getting better and some even have markings now! The meter has reached 900 pounds with just under 250kms to go
Law of the land
The condition of the road from the border onwards is not the best and therefore slow going, however, it seems not slow enough. 45kms after the border Matthew took over the driving and literally 2 minutes later got stopped by the police. Although we saw no signs they said we broke the speed limit and ended up with a USD 50 fine. The policeman posed for our camera (picture to follow) but became shy when we asked for a copy of the paperwork.
Despite the poor roads the taxi is running really well and less than half a tank of fuel has been used in the 390 kms traveled so far. The taxi meter is approaching 750 pounds - pity its not for real as it could help pay the fine.
Despite the poor roads the taxi is running really well and less than half a tank of fuel has been used in the 390 kms traveled so far. The taxi meter is approaching 750 pounds - pity its not for real as it could help pay the fine.
We are in Ukraine
Ukraine border, very early, again but you know what? We got through in double quick time. Four different control offices, customs Poland out Ukraine in passport etc. They didn't know what a London Taxi was and had never seen one. We smiled, we were polite, we filled in forms, we smiled, we were polite again and we waited. "9 o clock you wait please" they said. Ten minuters later Matthew was doing a silly dance which Nigel thought was an impression of a goose stepping soldier and the customs asked for our papers again. Not good. But then wham we were through and on our way!! The trick is to act mad and they let you through! Kiev 500 kms to go
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Arrival at the capital of foolishness
We got into the border town of Chelm (pronounced 'helm') at about 17.15hrs. As we had been up and about travelling in one form or another since before 3am it was good to finally stop for the day and relax.
Chelm is known by the local Jewish community in their self-depreciating humourous way as 'The Capital of Foolishness' but on a Tuesday night it seemed very quiet. We parked the taxi outside our hotel and wandered into the town, picking a restaurant who wanted to give us a traditional beef meal which was very nice but seemed to incorporate a loaf of bread each.
Then it was an early night ready for an early start. Roll on Ukraine.
Chelm is known by the local Jewish community in their self-depreciating humourous way as 'The Capital of Foolishness' but on a Tuesday night it seemed very quiet. We parked the taxi outside our hotel and wandered into the town, picking a restaurant who wanted to give us a traditional beef meal which was very nice but seemed to incorporate a loaf of bread each.
Then it was an early night ready for an early start. Roll on Ukraine.
Two thirds of the way there
Nigel has taken over after 150 km of driving on roads of various quality and condition. Rain swept in and it all got very dark for a while and there were some great examples of people undertaking and overtaking the taxi. I think we are the only ones sticking to the speed limit.
Only about a 100 km to go until we stop tonight. Then its an early start and through customs and on to Kiev.
We passed the 100 km mark with £202.60 on the meter but now we are well over £300. We get a lot of people staring and waving and beeping us, they have never seen a London Taxi in the flesh!
Drive on Nigel!
Only about a 100 km to go until we stop tonight. Then its an early start and through customs and on to Kiev.
We passed the 100 km mark with £202.60 on the meter but now we are well over £300. We get a lot of people staring and waving and beeping us, they have never seen a London Taxi in the flesh!
Drive on Nigel!
Leaving Warsaw
We finally got the taxi at 13.15hrs and set off with Matthew at the wheel. He has turned the taxi meter on and the bill is already 55 pounds and we are not out of Warsaw yet! Mind you I am sure the driver is taking me the 'pretty route' though he swears its a short cut. Fact of the day is that the polish word for Speed Camera is fotoradar.
Leaving Warsaw
We finally got the taxi at 13.15hrs and are now en route. Matthew is first up for driving and has the meter running. It's already up to 33 pounds and we haven't got out of Warsaw yet. In fact I'm pretty sure the driver is taking me the 'pretty route' to build it up but he says it's the Knowledge
Arrival in Warsaw
Apologies for the delay in writing this, we were having connection problems.
Our flight arrived at Frederic Chopin Airport a little early and, after a short delay in waiting for our luggage, we were met by our Polish representative Jacek Karowski who currently has a fleet of new vehicles on their way from the factory.
Our taxi is undergoing a final service before we start the journey and therefore we are taking advantage of an hour’s break to finally get something to eat. Sadly, the diets we have both been recently trying to keep to have fallen at the first hurdle. Nigel has dived into a large fry-up breakfast complete with chips whilst Matthew’s burger alone must have contained at least two days worth of recommended calorie intake (mind you half of it went down his shirt)
At 12.00hrs we are due to collect the taxi and set off on the first leg of the journey – a three hour drive to the Polish town of Chelm which is about 12 miles before the Polish-Ukraine border.
We have no SatNav (mainly because Ukraine is not covered) so we are relying on Google Maps. However, it is virtually a straight road to Chelm from Warsaw so we shouldn’t go wrong………
Our flight arrived at Frederic Chopin Airport a little early and, after a short delay in waiting for our luggage, we were met by our Polish representative Jacek Karowski who currently has a fleet of new vehicles on their way from the factory.
Our taxi is undergoing a final service before we start the journey and therefore we are taking advantage of an hour’s break to finally get something to eat. Sadly, the diets we have both been recently trying to keep to have fallen at the first hurdle. Nigel has dived into a large fry-up breakfast complete with chips whilst Matthew’s burger alone must have contained at least two days worth of recommended calorie intake (mind you half of it went down his shirt)
At 12.00hrs we are due to collect the taxi and set off on the first leg of the journey – a three hour drive to the Polish town of Chelm which is about 12 miles before the Polish-Ukraine border.
We have no SatNav (mainly because Ukraine is not covered) so we are relying on Google Maps. However, it is virtually a straight road to Chelm from Warsaw so we shouldn’t go wrong………
Monday, 26 April 2010
oh it is too early!!
5.30 in the morning and guess what, Heathrow is shut! not shut as in Ash cloud shut, just very early in the morning shut. Nigel and I have already been up for 3 and a half hours and have checked in and are ready to go. There are no places to eat open so we are existing on black coffee, this is not a civilised way or time to start the day.
Anyway the adventure has got off to a good start, fantastic moon as we travelled down and at least we are here. Last week it looked like we wouldnt even get this far!
So keep reading, we take off at 6.30 so will update you when we land and then everything really gets going.
Matthew Cheyne
Anyway the adventure has got off to a good start, fantastic moon as we travelled down and at least we are here. Last week it looked like we wouldnt even get this far!
So keep reading, we take off at 6.30 so will update you when we land and then everything really gets going.
Matthew Cheyne
April 26, 2010
TAXI TO KIEV PLEASE!
TAXI TO KIEV PLEASE!
What is the furthest you have driven your cab? Or the strangest taxi journey you have ever undertaken? Well LTI think they can beat any story you might have to tell with one of their own.
How about a 650 mile taxi journey from Warsaw to Kiev!
That’s what two employees of The London Taxi Company the international brand for LTI, are going to do to make sure a London Taxi gets to Kiev in time for an important launch event.
“We are launching The London Taxi Service in Kiev and there is a high profile launch at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the 12th May. We obviously need to make sure the star of the show was there and getting it transported was proving very difficult,” said Matthew Cheyne, International Market Development Director for The London Taxi Company. “Then we thought about the demonstrator we had in Poland and thought why not drive it to Kiev.”
And that’s what they are doing.
Matthew is being partnered by Nigel Walters, Overseas Operations Coordinator on the trip and they are setting off on Tuesday 27th and hope to be in Kiev by late Wednesday 28th April.
“Nigel and I were happy to accept the challenge and we know the taxi will cope just fine with different road conditions and weather. We will be keeping a blog along the way so people can follow what we are doing. In fact if it creates enough interest we might do it again, or even travel further next time after all we want to sell the taxi all over the world, this could just be another way of getting there!”
The London Taxi Company is holding a series of events in Eastern Europe to launch The London Taxi Service. Prague will host an event on the 5th May before other countries announce events.
To find out more about The London Taxi Service visit http://www.londontaxis.co.uk/ or follow Matthew ‘s and Nigel’s trip on http://thelondontaxicompany.blogspot.com/
ENDS
News release issued on behalf of LTI Vehicles by Connect PR. For further information call +44 (0)1902 714957.
How about a 650 mile taxi journey from Warsaw to Kiev!
That’s what two employees of The London Taxi Company the international brand for LTI, are going to do to make sure a London Taxi gets to Kiev in time for an important launch event.
“We are launching The London Taxi Service in Kiev and there is a high profile launch at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on the 12th May. We obviously need to make sure the star of the show was there and getting it transported was proving very difficult,” said Matthew Cheyne, International Market Development Director for The London Taxi Company. “Then we thought about the demonstrator we had in Poland and thought why not drive it to Kiev.”
And that’s what they are doing.
Matthew is being partnered by Nigel Walters, Overseas Operations Coordinator on the trip and they are setting off on Tuesday 27th and hope to be in Kiev by late Wednesday 28th April.
“Nigel and I were happy to accept the challenge and we know the taxi will cope just fine with different road conditions and weather. We will be keeping a blog along the way so people can follow what we are doing. In fact if it creates enough interest we might do it again, or even travel further next time after all we want to sell the taxi all over the world, this could just be another way of getting there!”
The London Taxi Company is holding a series of events in Eastern Europe to launch The London Taxi Service. Prague will host an event on the 5th May before other countries announce events.
To find out more about The London Taxi Service visit http://www.londontaxis.co.uk/ or follow Matthew ‘s and Nigel’s trip on http://thelondontaxicompany.blogspot.com/
ENDS
News release issued on behalf of LTI Vehicles by Connect PR. For further information call +44 (0)1902 714957.
Tomorrow is the day
Tomorrow is the day when Nigel and I go to Poland to begin our journey. We will blog from the taxi as we travel accross Poland and Ukraine. Wish us luck!
Monday, 19 April 2010
The first of many
Welcome to the new London Taxi Company blog. Here we will be posting stories, observations and articles all based on what is going on with The London Taxi Company.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
