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Can ‘waxis’ sink or swim? £75K project hopes to put taxis on Manchester’s canals

A Manchester entrepreneur will be hoping his latest idea doesn’t sink as he looks to raise funds for a new form of taxi, which will launch onto the city’s canals.

Steve Cadwell is hoping to raise £75,000, through crowdfunder, to offer an alternative to traveling around Manchester with Water Taxis.

The ‘waxis’ will be able to carry up to 12 people for as little as £5 and will take in some of the city’s iconic surroundings along its route from Manchester city centre to Old Trafford on the Bridgewater Canal.

Manchester Water Taxis Founder, Steve Cadwell, said: “Manchester has always been a vibrant, cutting edge city and with the ever increasing influx of tourists and young professionals wanting to work here, it’s time for an alternative form of travel.

“The Bridgewater Canal passes through the heart of Manchester and it makes perfect sense to use it to the benefit of the thousands of people who pass through the city every day.

“This is a chance for Mancunians to make history and help bring a brand new icon to the city. With a guaranteed 20% return for anyone who invests over £215 in the venture.

“We also have a lot of interest from overseas, particularly from tourists visiting the Manchester United Football ground. We hope that waxis will offer a great way for people to travel to home games on match days, adding to their Manchester experience.”

The route could become a firm favourite of Manchester United fans and tourists should it get the funding as the waxis will not only go to Old Trafford but will also stop at the new Hotel Football, owned by Reds legends Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.

Fine tuned by Mr Cadwell since 2009, the waxis will also stop at key restaurant hotspots such as Dukes 92 and the Trafford Centre.

Providing free Wi-Fi and power sockets the waxis will provide an environmentally friendly, relaxing mode of transportation for daily commuters and tourists which will relieve congestion in the city and reduce CO2 emissions.

Investors will have 60 days from October 27 in which to contribute to the crowdfunding campaign and bring waxis to Manchester’s waterways.

To donate to Manchester’s new transport initiative, click here.

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