Well, according to reports the average commuter is now spending about 20% of their salary on travel. When you consider UK households spend about 40% on housing it doesn’t leave much else left over. As well as this the average fare increase across the country is about 6%. The rail lines themselves are subsidised by the government already with the private sector contributing about £5 billion per year. Further increases could cripple people’s personal finances with UK fares being as much as 10 times higher than European counterparts. In Japan fares are actually refunded if trains are more than 2 minutes late.

So should we expect the same level of service here in the UK? Our railway lines are much older that some other countries so additional maintenance is needed. Furthermore, trains are very expensive a single passenger carriage can easily cost £1,000,000. Some trains have as many as 15 carriages and the locomotive itself costs about £3,000,000 so the investment is huge just for one train alone.

In some areas in the Midlands train fares have risen by as much as 11%. Other regions haven’t been affected quite so badly. For example, a yearly season ticket with First Capital Connect travelling from Peterborough to London has increased by 5.6 per cent, from £5,320 to £5,620.

Indeed, the train fare hikes have caused so much dismay that protests have taken place. One protester’s banner promoted a slogan “David Cameron, wanted for the great train fares robbery!”

London travel is very busy at peak times with crowded trains not uncommon. In addition it is not uncommon for commuters that travel in from the nearby commuter belt to pay almost £4,000 for a season ticket from areas as close as Luton.

Train fares differ from other forms of travel because for example the London minicab trade is competitive which helps to keep fares reasonable, not only this you can call for a quote and if it is not satisfactory you can look elsewhere. As opposed to train travel where people often do not have any other choice but to take a certain train and accept the fare charged.

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His return follows the huge success of his 2008 Gala Concert for the Leukaemia Foundation and Asthma UK; this event is again sponsored by The Hottinger Group.

José Carreras Royal Albert Hall

There are corporate packages available through the Royal Albert Hall, which include a corporate box, champagne, canapés and a waiter. To complement this hospitality you can use our chauffeur service and book a Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar or Rolls-Royce, so your clients evening can start and finish in luxury. For staff you can book our minicabs which are all quality vehicles and available at very competitive fares.

Along with José Carreras the evening will also include performances by talent from Diva Opera, Solti-Te Kanawa Academia and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor maestro David Gimenez will also be in attendance.

Book Travel to the Royal Albert Hall

Our minicabs and chauffeur service is also ideal for couples and friends. If you want to travel comfortably in your attire you can book with us and we will ensure you and your friends enjoy the evening without having to worry about convenience or travel arrangements. We can organise multiple pickups and drop offs with ease.

José Carreras is particularly well known for his performances in the Verdi and Puccini operas. During the 1990s he was also famous across the world for being one of the three tenors consisting of himself, Placido Domingo and the late Luciano Pavarotti. José Carreras also heads his own charitable foundation called the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation hence the reason for the event at the Royal Albert Hall. To support this concert you can buy tickets directly from the Royal Albert Hall and arrange your travel with us.

We have been established over 25 years and have built a reputation of reliability and professionalism. Our London minicab fares are amongst the most competitive and our chauffeur driven car hire is equally good value.

If you need to book a minicab for the London Film Festival and are only in the city for a short amount of time we can fit in around your schedule ensuring you are able to attend whichever events suit you. Alternatively, you may wish to book a chauffeur driven hire car to take you around the festival which organises film showings at many of the largest cinemas in central London.

This prestigious event holds formal opening and closing night galas which may call for a luxury car with chauffeur so you can arrive in a more appropriate vehicle. TST Car Services has over 28 years experience providing London minicabs and London chauffeur services to private and corporate clients. Our reputation precedes us and we pride ourselves on confidentiality, reliability and professionalism. TST Car Services is also a Public Carriage Office (PCO) licensed Company.

In recent years the profile of the BFI London Film Festival has been raised with many of the world’s most famous film stars and directors attending the event which often includes world premieres. As a result the festival has grown in popularity meaning getting around the event and catching the positive plethora of films on show can be very difficult. This is why many of our clients choose to book a hire car with chauffeur for the more formal occasions and use our mini cab London service for general film showings.

TFL or Transport for London has lots of information about Public Carriage Licences and guidelines as well information about private hire vehicle laws. This is a great resource for minicab drivers and consumers that want to know about their rights and the regulations of the industry.

TFL has also put together a helpful document on how to become a minicab driver. TFL Minicab Driver

We wrote an article some time ago about becoming a minicab driver it’s been read thousands of times and is still pretty relevant. How to become a minicab driver?

Here is another article we wrote about cleaning your minicab or chauffeur car. It’s an important part of the job, so here you go. Cleaning your Minicab

Here’s a good link to the Department for Transport they go into detail about taxis and minicabs and the surrounding regulations.

If you are thinking about starting a minicab firm here is an interesting detailed article from Startups

Chauffeur Car Services

The Aegon Masters has become synonymous for its fine dining and entertainment set within the historical lavish setting of the Royal Albert Hall. TST Cars has been providing chauffeur car services to this event since its inception 14 years ago. Used by many of the largest corporations in the UK to transport staff and clients to and from the event our chauffeur driven cars have never failed to meet expectations.

Our fleet of luxury chauffeur hire vehicles includes Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar and even Rolls-Royce and Bentley saloons. You can be sure that if you book a car to the Aegon Masters the image of your company will be upheld by the quality of our chauffeur service.

The corporate hospitality packages come with a host of exclusive services making the experience even more lavish. (Please be advised the below package needs to be booked through the event promoters)

• Early VIP admission
• Champagne reception
• Lunch or dinner in the Champions Club
• Premium box seats
• Pudding, cheese and coffee served in your box
• Complimentary bar and steward
• Souvenir programme
• Event documentation

It’s important that transport to and from the event is in keeping with the quality of the experience itself so the image your company is upheld.

Prestige London Minicab Service

This year’s Aegon Masters is of particular interest because it highlights the return of Tim Henman to competitive tennis. The former world number 4 and 4 time Wimbledon semi-finalist is returning to the sport after a 3 year break. It is a prestigious event if you and your friends want to book an executive minicab so you can travel together in style. TST Cars can provide a prestige minicab service which is suitable for an event of this kind at a very affordable fare. We can make multiple pickups and drop offs making your night as easy and stress free as possible.

To book a London chauffeur or minicab service to the Aegon Masters at a competitive rate call us on 0207 409 3033. One of our booking advisers will be happy to give you a quote.

Competitors at this year’s event:

• Tim Henman
• Pat Rafter
• Goran Ivanisevic
• Mark Philippoussis
• Henri Leconte (doubles)
• Mansour Bahrami (doubles)

The mighty shopper’s paradise boasts 1.9 million square feet of pure shopping and entertainment. There are apparently 300 shops with 70 restaurants. That’s certainly enough to warrant at least a few trips. The complex also has a bowling alley, huge casino and a 17 screen cinema.

This development is just in time for the 2012 London Olympics and Westfield obviously wants to take advantage of the event and the huge droves of people it will attract. Not only this, but bus and train links have been positioned to enable easy access from across the capital. The new shopping centre will certainly be a new landmark in South East London.

Although, its sister site, Westfield West London showcases the village, which is full of shops, such as, Gucci and Prada the Stratford version is much more down to earth. Now London has Stratford which offers less of the designer wear and more high street fashion. Top Shop, Primark and Zara take the place of the big designer brands and eateries such as McDonalds and Nandos offer shoppers a quick lunch.

Europe’s largest urban shopping mall cost £1.45 billion and sits on the edge of the Olympic site and is ready for action next summer. It is set to create 10,000 much needed jobs probably mostly for the under 25 year olds, which is good considering so many of them seem to be finding it difficult to find work at the moment.

With two massive shopping centres this will no doubt mean revenue will be taken from Regent and Oxford Street. Large established department stores such as Selfridges and flagship stores such as John Lewis and Debenhams may find it difficult to compete.

If you are live or are visiting London and would like to book a London minicab or chauffeur driven car for a shopping excursion to Westfield West London or Westfield Stratford call TST Cars for a quote.

Where is Bicester Village?

The shopping village can be found in the Oxfordshire countryside, only 60 minutes from London. The full address is 50 Pingle Drive, Oxon, OX26 6WD. The Village is easily accessible by minicab although some shopaholics may prefer to take a chauffeur hire car. The queues to the car park can be horrendous so booking a minicab could give you more time to shop then having to spend ages looking for a parking space.

The shops and boutiques are exactly what you would expect to find in the world’s best shopping destinations such as Bond Street or Rodeo Drive. You will love the shopping experience with friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere.

There is plenty to do there, even after you shop ‘til you drop. You can visit nearby attractions with beautiful scenery, stately homes, historic towns and plenty of highly acclaimed Michelin starred restaurants to satisfy your appetite. The surrounding area has British heritage sites such as; Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, Warwick Castle and Waddesdon Manor containing beautiful works of priceless art, furniture and wine collections. Famed Cotswolds towns such as Woodstock, Burford and Bibury are also nearby. With Silverstone racetrack also not far, in case you want to send the boys off while the ladies shop!

When booking your minicab or chauffeur service remember you can plan a whole day around your visit to the shopping village; so make sure you have enough time to visit all the local attractions to keep the whole family entertained.

Which Shops are at Bicester Village?

You will find a range of the most stylish brands at the shopping village including ultra chic designer labels Gucci, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent and Versace, as well as all the other well known labels seen all over the catwalks in London fashion week. You will also find brands you don’t have to take a small loan out to purchase something including French Connection, Levi’s, Puma and Timberland.

The Bicester shopping village caters for all your shopping needs with retail outlets for Men, Women, Children, Home, Jewellery and Beauty. Plus when you need to take a break from all the shopping there are some food and beverage places where you can rest your feet and take a bite to eat while look in wonder at all the shopping bargains you have bought.

You can book your minicab or chauffeur car to pick you up for your shopping trip early with the shops opening on Sunday to Friday at 10am with an earlier start of 9am on Saturdays. Although you could arrive before with the cafes and restaurants opening between 8.30am and 9am. Enough time for you to get a hearty breakfast in before all the shopping.

Bicester Village is open all day with the shops closing at 8pm Monday to Saturday and 7pm on Sunday. You could book your return minicab or chauffeur hire car for about 10pm if you want to grab a bite to eat at the restaurants when you have finished your shopping trip. Your minicab driver will be able to help with your shopping bags and ensure that you and your newly acquired wardrobe is safely transported.

Whatever your reason for going you can use TST Cars to ensure you get to the event in style and on time. Our London chauffeur hire service has been used for the BAFTA Film Awards time-and-time again over our 29 years, so you can rest assured all of your travel needs to the BAFTA’s is in safe hands.

The BAFTA Awards are normally held at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, City of London WC2E 9DD. This has been the case since 2008 when the ROH took over from the Odeon cinema in Leicester Square. TST Cars is popular choice if you are looking for a reasonably priced chauffeur service for the BAFTA’s. We are based just down the road from the Royal Opera house in Mayfair, W1, which makes us ideally located.

You don’t have to book a cheap service with a cheap look. Our prestige cars and drivers are very well presented and you can even open an account free of charge. By doing this you can benefit from further discounts and a 30 day credit agreement. It’s perfect for businesses that use executive car travel or minicabs on a regular basis in the Central London area.

Last year’s winners include Colin Firth and Natalie Portman, so you don’t want to arrive to a prestigious event like the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards in a rust bucket. You can choose from our large range of cars. A sophisticated and pristine clean Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi is usually the most popular and appropriate choice for such an event.

All of our chauffeur drivers are experienced in driving guests to and from prominent events like the British Academy Film Awards. You can even book a car to the BAFTA’s with multiple pick-ups and drop off points making the journey more cost effective.

It’s a very popular event and public transport like the Tube can be crowded. If you want to order a London minicab or chauffeur driven service, you can use TST Cars. Established 29 years ago we are used regularly by lots of businesses to transport staff and clients to and from ExCel’s London Boat Show.

Now in its 55^th year the show continues to grow and provides a diverse and unique experience for not only boating enthusiasts but visitors that want to experience something new and exciting. We have found many businesses and people find the event thrilling and awe inspiring. If you order a minicab to the London Boat Show with TST Cars, you’ll avoid the stress of driving in London and trying to find a parking space. If you like convenience why take advantage of our free account service, which offers a 30 day credit payment facility, priority service and discount fares. It’s great for central London businesses.

All of our drivers are highly trained and professional, we are also a PCO (Transport for London) Licensed company and offer a range of executive saloons. It does not matter whether you need to book a minicab or chauffeur car service for the London Boat Show we offer a wide range of vehicles to suit all needs at very low competitive fixed rate fares.

This year the London Boat Show is exhibiting used boats as well as a host of new attractions which visitors can take part in. These include a huge water sports action pool, which allows visitors to actually canoe and kayak in the London Excel Exhibition Centre. Visitors will also be able to Brushboard, this new activity curiously involves surfing without water.

The event also offers other attractions which makes it a fun experience for everyone including families. If you plan on going to the London Boat Show with a few friends and family you can order a minibus or MPV with TST’s minicab service. We can make multiple pick-ups and drop offs. This is an ideal option and cost effective way to travel to and from the event.

For VIP travel you may need to book a chauffeur car service. Our service will ensure the image of your company is upheld, TST Cars can provide a luxury chauffeur driven car hire service for the event. We offer a range of cars including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and even Rolls-Royce saloons.

TST Cars has been providing transport to and from the London Boat Show for over 29 years now so you can rest assured your travel needs will be well taken care of.

Other Attractions Include:

• Model Boat Pool
• Boardwalk
• Classic Boat Exhibition
• Exhibitor Area
• Cruising Chute
• Family Area
• Knowledge Box

Event Dates: 2012, January 6^th to the 15^th