A YOUNG woman was left stranded when multiple taxis refused to pick her up from Swindon railway station.

Georgia Scott had to lug a heavy suitcase almost an hour through the streets after three cab drivers told her they wouldn’t accept her journey on October 25.

One driver would only take cash, which Georgia didn’t have, and the other two refused to drive her home – saying the journey was under the minimum fare of £10.

Georgia was travelling home from the University of Exeter to celebrate her 19th birthday.

She said: “I just couldn’t really believe it.

“I had a stressful trip anyway because I’d booked the wrong train tickets for the wrong day. I walked out of the train station just exhausted and it was only about 11.30am.”

Three taxis were waiting in the rank.

Georgia said: “They were ones which are also suitable for disabled people, so I definitely knew there would be room for my bag in the back of the car.“

The asthmatic student lives near Mannington Roundabout and was expecting her fare to cost £7. The first driver refused her because they didn’t take card payments

“The next one asked me where I was going, and then said no there was a £10 minimum fare,” said Georgia.

“I asked him want he meant because I’d done that trip before and, to be honest I’d done shorter trips, so I couldn’t understand it.”

Georgia’s parents were away for the weekend so weren’t able to come and collect her.

She added: “He repeated it was a £10 minimum faire to take me and my journey was less than this.

“I went to the third taxi and he said the exact same thing.

“I was told I could pay £10 for the trip but that’s not what my fare is,” said Georgia.

“So I was just stood there with this massive bag. I was gobsmacked,” she added.

As a result Georgia, who is a fresher studying English and drama, had to walk almost an hour through the streets to get home.

She said: “It’s probably a five–minute drive. But with the bag I couldn’t go my short route because the ground is quite rough so I was worried the bag was break, or it would veer off the path and end up in the canal.

“It had all my work in and my laptop. The last thing I needed was a smashed laptop.”

Georgia said the bus routes don’t go near enough to her house to take one, and being a Sunday the busses were less dependable.

“I suffer from asthma,” added Georgia. “So when I’m walking with something heavy like that, it takes me much longer. I was just exhausted when I eventually got back.”

She added: “I had money and I was willing to pay. We’re all going through a tough time so I thought they would want to take me regardless.”

“Next time I will definitely book one,” Georgia added.

Andrew Lucas, secretary of the Swindon Taxi Association said: “It’s illegal for any taxi to refuse the fare without good reason. There is no minimum fare and if something like this happens to people I would suggest they email the council straightaway with a description of the vehicle, licence plate or registration number and make a complaint. Because that is not something we would advocate.”