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Responds to high taxi fares: – Could have flown to a warmer place for that price

One of those who has experienced this on his wallet is former channel host and host of NRK, Terje Sølsnes.

Earlier in December, Sølsnes landed at Gardermoen at 23.30, before he had to undergo corona testing. This meant that he was not out of the airport until closer to 01.30, just over half an hour late for the last flight.

– The alternatives were either to take a taxi or to go home to Uranienborg, says Sølsnes.

Not surprisingly, the choice fell on the first option. This would prove to be very expensive.

No fixed price

Sølsnes says that there were few taxis outside Gardermoen, and no fixed price offer.

– I think it’s pretty lugubrious all together. In the old days, as we like to say, people went to a counter and were told what the trip would cost. It was clear and fine.

He says that several have told him that it is still like that, with a screen where you can order a taxi and find out the price in advance, but this was not available so late. Therefore, Sølsnes ended up having to manage on his own.

– After the release of taxis, I experience that it is completely wild in the industry. You are tricked into something you do not really know what it entails.

– I looked for Oslo Taxi, which is a company I know, but there were none of them there. Then there was a man standing there asking if I wanted a cab. I had not intended to go to Oslo, so I sat down. The driver was a nice guy and we chatted, so I saw that it went terribly fast on the taximeter. I asked if they had a fixed price, but they did not, Sølsnes stated.

Thus, the trip ended at 2175 kroner. The former NRK man has told about the experience to some friends, and the reactions have not been long in coming.

– It all ended with a friend asking why in the world I came home, and I think that is really a good question. A friend wrote that I should call Oslo Taxi, and agreed with me that the release is completely wild.

– I could in principle fly to a warmer place for that price.

Sentrum Taxi, which Sølsnes drove with, has not responded to TV 2 helper inquiries.

– Ask about price before you get into the taxi

The Norwegian Taxi Association is aware that some taxi centers charge so well for a trip from Gardermoen to Oslo. However, it is up to each taxi station to set the prices of the trips. They have a clear tip for the customer.

– It is important that all passengers ask about the price before getting into a taxi as the taxi centers can decide the prices themselves. Some taxi exchanges have a “fixed price” and some have a parallel fare (running on a taximeter). All passengers should be informed of the price when boarding a taxi, but I know that this is unfortunately rarely followed up in the industry. The passenger will then receive the lowest price of the price offer and the taximeter price when they arrive, writes director of the Norwegian Taxi Association, Hanne Skåle Thowesen, to TV 2 help you.

Hanne Skåle Thowsen is the director of the Norwegian Taxi Association. Photo: Bjørn Roger Brevik / TV 2

She adds that you do not have to take the taxi that is first in line,

– Do you understand that customers feel that the taxi industry is taking advantage of the situation?

– Unfortunately, this is not a new phenomenon. It has been a challenge for many years that some taxi centers charge a high price for Gardermoen-Oslo, and this has unfortunately not been solved, because it is the taxi centers themselves that set these prices. Some taxi companies offer lower fixed prices, but it is important that customers ask before taking a taxi about what the price is, she repeats.

– So far, competition rules apply, and some taxi centers unfortunately take advantage of customers’ perception that all trips to Oslo cost 800 kroner. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to do anything about it, because we are a member organization and do not have the authority to exercise authority.

Recommends the ordering machine

She points out the booking machine as a good tool for getting a reasonable price on the taxi ride.

– The booking machine is very nice to order from, because then you will have the price estimated in advance to the address you are going to, and it is thus binding on the taxi that meets and has accepted the trip. But it requires that the affordable exchanges / those that have a fixed price actually have cars available at the taxi depot.

Rubynor, who operates the vending machine at Gardermoen, says it was a mistake that this was not available when Sølsnes was to take a taxi. They have now taken action as a result of the corona testing at Gardermoen.

– The rule is that the tablets are taken down after the last plane has landed. In recent days, we have kept them open until 02 o’clock, precisely to catch delays due to corona testing, they write in an email to TV 2 helps you.

Responds to the fact that Flytoget has not moved the last departure

Sølsnes believes much could have been solved by Flytoget moving the last departure. This now runs at 00.50 from Gardermoen.

– The fact that the pandemic means that passengers are delayed out of Gardermoen should lead to the return possibilities also being shifted. It is a minimum of what one can expect from such a public offer, says Sølsnes.

According to Flytoget, this is not as simple as it sounds.

FLYTOG: Sølsnes thinks Flytoget should have had a later departure.  Photo: Frode Sunde / TV 2

FLYTOG: Sølsnes thinks Flytoget should have had a later departure. Photo: Frode Sunde / TV 2

– We would like to run around the clock, but we can not, both because of other trains, and because Bane NOR often does maintenance at night. We are already the first and last to drive on the stretch, so we have maxed it out as far as we can. It is simply not possible to push it anymore, says communications director Ida Marie Fottland.

– Later departures are a discussion that comes up often, even in the summer when many charter flights land late. Then we can get exceptions, but it has been a long time since we got it now, she says.

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