TAXI and bus drivers across York are lining up to take part in extra training to improve their knowledge of the city.

The tourism training day, which was launched by Visit York in February, aims to update and sharpen drivers’ knowledge of the city’s history and attractions, and improve the York experience for the four million visitors the city welcomes every year.

So far, two training sessions have taken place, with 40 drivers from various taxi and bus companies taking part.

An extra training session has been held for Pullman Bus Company, whose staff of about 30 drivers all attended. The courses are led by Chris Morton, Visit York’s visitor services manager and tour guide Keith Mulhearn, from Complete Yorkshire. Visit York is planning further taxi driver events later this year, and said they had been a great success.

Sue Frumin, business development manager of Visit York, said: “Taxi drivers are often the first person a visitor meets when they arrive into the city, and the welcome and information they receive is vital to forming their impressions of the city.

“We’re delighted with the response we have had to the training so far. All three events were a huge success and feedback was extremely valuable both in terms of customer service and knowledge about the city.”

The course they ran was a mix of customer care and service skills combined with product knowledge about York. After the training day, drivers completed a short test, and were given an accredited sign to put in the window of their vehicle, to show visitors they are fully up-to-date on the city’s events.

If you drive a bus or taxi and want to be involved in future training days, email Sue at sf@visityork.org or phone 01904 554437.


Some course questions

Some of the questions asked on the course included:

1. Who founded the city in 71AD?

2. As well as being a church and minster what other title does York’s biggest attraction hold?

3. How many miles long are the city walls?

4. What is York’s shortest street called?

5. What did the Vikings call York and is where the museum gets its name?

6. With which trade do you associate Shambles?

7. Which national museum is based in York?

8. Where is Kirkgate?

9. Who said: “The History of York is the History of England”?


Answers

1 Romans. 2 Cathedral. 3 2.5 miles. 4 Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate. 5 Jorvik. 6 Butchers. 7 National Railway Museum. 8 In York Castle Museum. 9 King George VI.