17th february 2010

This is my first ever trip to Coventry where they make the world’s famous london taxi. ( LTI) London taxi’s international.

Our trip was arranged by the London taxi  branch of the RMT union, we all met at Euston station for the 09:43  train to Coventry. It was a very swift and painless 50 minute journey. When we arrived we were met by Richard daniels and Andrew 0verton.

This is what we first saw on arrival, as we drove towards their main entrance.

We were then led through their open plan offices to a room with Tea and biscuits laid on.

They started to ask us questions starting with Michael bailey by the time they reached me I was all ready with my iphone and Twitter at the ready with questions drivers asked me to ask.

My first question was are they going to change the engine when euro five comes in, they said no they are only working on the emmisions but using the same engine, my next question from my Twitter feed was from  Dawn aka coopse1 she wanted to know if the radiator was changed on their 08 models they told me they have changed the radiators.

The whole question and answers went on for around an hour, then afterwards we were given a tour round the factory floor.

Below Taxi shells lined up waiting to be fitted out.

On the right the body of a TX  cab being rubbed down waiting to be sprayed.

Before it is sprayed it has to go through this process with green lights it helps to make the paint stick to the body.

On the right a fully made up chassis with engine fitted, waiting to have the finished body lifted on top.

As we moved round the factory floor we could see the cab being made up piece by piece. A very steady but slow process.

On the Left a TX4 waiting to have all it’s bits and pieces fitted.

On the right the finished article.

Below the listening group of 2010, having a photo shoot.

From left to right Michael Bailey Brian Hall,,Steve Emment,Andrew Overton,Peter Connelly,and finally Paul Walch.