Wa-ter stress free way to commute

A LICENCE has finally been awarded to a company to launch a water taxi service in Manchester.

Following year-long negotiations, Bridgewater Canal Company – owned by Peel Land and Property Group – has granted the licence to Manchester Water Taxis to operate two boats on the canal starting later this year.

Manchester Water Taxis, founded in February 2009 by entrepreneur Steven Cadwell, initially planned to launch on the Manchester Ship Canal providing public transport services between the city centre and MediaCityUK.

Despite securing funding these plans were put on hold once HS2 was given the greenlight and the Ordsall Chord began construction which is not due to finish until 2017.

Rather than mothball the project Manchester Water Taxis searched for alternative routes to market which were realised with the signing of the BCCL licence.

Cadwell said: “The signing of this licence is a monumental milestone in the history of Manchester Water Taxis. The next few months are going to going to be really exciting as we prepare for launch. I can’t wait to welcome the first passengers on board.”

Bridgewater Canal general manager Peter Parkinson said: “We are delighted to have agreed terms to bring this alternative form of public transport onto the Bridgewater Canal, which together with the Bridgewater Way towpath improvements will help to reduce traffic congestion and increase sustainable travel within Manchester.”

Under the terms of the licence Manchester Water Taxis will run a service to the intu Trafford Centre via Old Trafford and Hotel Football as well as a service to Sale both terminating at Dukes 92, Castlefield.

It is Cadwell’s vision to quickly build a fleet of waxis (the trademarked name for his boats) that will offer an alternative form of transport to the city’s already congested roads and provide passengers with a relaxed, stress free journey that’s not only enjoyable but also reliable.

Manchester Water Taxis next month enters Entrepreneurial Spark’s Accelerator programme which launches in Manchester. Entrepreneurial Spark has developed a proprietary ‘entrepreneurial enablement’ programme that will take Manchester Water Taxis through a development process lasting 6 months with continued support for up to 18 months.

As part of the Entrepreneurial Spark programme Manchester Water Taxis will also have access to more than 50 business mentors and is confident that with this support the first few months of operation should be plain sailing.