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London cabs ordered off the streets after engine fires
Hundreds of London black taxi cabs have been been ordered off the streets after a series of mystery engine fires.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:18 September 19, 2008
London: Hundreds of London black taxi cabs have been been ordered off the streets after a series of mystery engine fires.
Transport for London (TfL), which runs the capital's public transport system, ordered checks on 600 taxis last month after reports of fires in a particular model of cab, the London Taxis International TX4 with a nearly new "56" registration.
However it took immediate action after an eighth cab burst into flames on Wednesday, the fourth in London and 12th throughout the country this month.
"Following the latest reported fire last night, the Public Carriage Office has suspended the licences of all TX4s with a 56 licence plate with immediate effect," TfL said in a statement yesterday.
"This is not a step we take lightly, but we cannot take any chances with the lives of London's taxi drivers or their passengers."
So far nobody has been injured and the cause of the blazes remains a mystery. TfL said the cab manufacturer had checked out around 100 affected taxis so far and those found to be safe were allowed to return to the road.
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