Address: York Station, Station Road, York, YO24 1AB (outside the main entrance)
Description
Affixed to the upper window panes outside York Railway Station, an elaborate font spells out ‘York Taxis High Class Day or Night. Association Always Available.’
Below this, another line reads, ‘Enquire and Order Office’.
History
York Station Taxis is one of the city’s oldest taxi companies, and its historic portacabin at York railway station has served as a base for over 30 years.
The kiosk itself, built around 1900 and made of timber with a glass roof, has been listed as Grade II since 1997.
York Railway Station itself was the largest in the world when it opened in 1877. Built by the North Eastern Railway, it featured 13 platforms, a train shed, station buildings, and a hotel.
1903 – Showing the inside of the Railway Station, built in 1877 Source: York Press
The kiosk, located in the northeast corner of the station’s portico, is recognized as “an unusual survival of an increasingly rare building,” according to its official listing.
This unique structure, encompassing just 164 square feet, is currently available for rent for £1,667 per month as a “prime serviced retail unit” in a station that welcomes around 9.5 million passengers a year.
1920s – Behind the glass partitioned wall is the York Station Taxi kiosk Source: Explore York Archives Asset ID: 1003344
In Autumn 2023, York Station Taxis vacated the kiosk in preparation for the extensive redevelopment of York Railway Station.
Once the redevelopment is complete, a new taxi pickup and drop-off point will be situated to the left of the portico when facing the station.
Although York Station Taxis no longer operates from the historic kiosk, its legacy remains intertwined with the station’s rich history.
1942 – Damage to York Station by WWII bombing Source: York Press
The kiosk, now available for new commercial use, will continue to stand as a testament to the enduring spirit of one of York’s oldest taxi companies.
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