Taxi drivers in Manchester call for fares to be put up


Cabbies want to put tariffs up for the first time in three years – but instead they are facing a block on increases and the end of fuel and luggage surcharges as council chiefs try to stave off the cost to passengers

Cabbies want to put tariffs up for the first time in three years – but instead they are facing a block on increases and the end of fuel and luggage surcharges as council chiefs try to stave off the cost to passengers.

Drivers say the moves represent a ‘real-time cut in earnings’ and will force them to work more hours or take home less pay.

Union and trade representatives wrote to senior officials, who licence around 1,800 hackney carriage vehicles, accusing them of making them go ‘cap in hand’ and expressing ‘deep concerns’ ahead of a meeting of the council’s executive committee which sets the fares.

Sean Kenny, of the Taxi Owners and Drivers Association and the GMB union, told the meeting: “We have among the highest operating costs in the country. We have 2,000 drivers – that’s 2,000 wives and about 6,000 children who are all affected.”

As well as putting up fares, drivers want to be able to recover the full cost of barrier charges at Piccadilly Station and add 30p onto fares at Manchester Airport.

A 20p per piece luggage surcharge and a fuel surcharge, brought in 2011 as a ‘safety net’ that kicks into force when the cost of diesel fluctuates dramatically, will also be removed, and a surcharge for card-paying customers limited to five per cent.

Mr Kenny said cabbies, whose operating costs are around £19,000 a year, said: “The recommendation of no fare increase at all means we will have to find ways to supplement our pay which a lot are already struggling to live on.

“That might mean that those who are able to, working longer hours which brings with it safety concerns. We believe we’re due an increase.”

The executive threw out proposals to abolish the Christmas tariff and to bring waiting time charges in line with other Greater Manchester authorities.


Licensing chief Kate Chappell said the council would talk to Network Rail and the airport about rising barrier charges as they seek to balance the cost to drivers and the public.

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Edinburgh Airport.

Taxi firm in legal fight over ranks row at city airport

One black cab firm is launching the legal action against Edinburgh City Council after it granted a licence for a rival private hire firm to open a new pre-booking office at the terminal of the city's airport.

Central Taxis, the capital's largest black cab firm, is appealing against the principle of a licence being granted for the company booking office yards from the private hire rank.

It is claiming in the action at Edinburgh Sheriff Court that the system is no longer in the spirit of the pre-booking requirement for private hire cars because passengers now go to the office and then walk out to the rank where their taxi will be waiting.

Central Taxis previously had a contract for five years, along with another private hire firm, to provide black cab and private cars for travellers at the terminal, which sees 25,000 passengers a day and is 30 minutes from the city centre.

City Cabs and Edinburgh City Private Hire won the latest contract to provide black cabs and cars at ranks at the airport terminal last year, but the private hire firm has only now had the permanent base approved.

An airport spokesman said it introduced wider changes to the layout to make it easier for travellers to move about the terminal and that its provision was legally sound.

One source claimed the distance between the new and old pre-booking offices is negligible, while opponents say it is enough to challenge the rules of pre-booking.

Tony Kenmuir, of Central Taxis, said he believed the booking method, which requires people to give a name and destination in an office before it is relayed to the car, is not pre-booking but "instantaneous".

He said: "We feel we have a valid argument and we are positive about the outcome of the appeal."

Kevin Woodburn, of Edinburgh City Private Hire, said he believed the court action by Central Taxis was motivated by "sour grapes" over losing the contract.

City Cabs declined to comment.

The council said it was aware of the Edinburgh Sheriff Court action.

Susan Mooney, the council's head of community safety services, said in her report to the licensing sub-commmittee that travellers had the clear option of both a taxi rank or hire car booking office at the terminal.

She said: "The booking will be logged on a computer and communicated to the driver of a vehicle in the pick-up area."

A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: "The initial contract had expired. We retendered, informed by our Surface Access Strategy, which allowed us for the first time to put our passengers' requirements at the heart of the decisions we make around taxi provision.

"We are observing and will comply with all legal and licensing requirements. Our primary concern is that the excellent service quality for passengers this offers is maintained. We are supportive of the diligent approach the council has taken.

"We are confident our taxi provisions are legal and, importantly, easy to use for our passengers. The council and its relevant committees agree with us.


"The current situation at the airport is very similar to the previous set-up, which was not challenged legally. It is also similar to many other major transport hubs across the UK."
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Birmingham

Two trains were cancelled when ticket conductors were stuck in a broken-down taxi yards from Birmingham New Street Station – and were BANNED from walking the rest of the way.

London Midland was forced to cancel the 17.49 to Hereford and the 17.59 to Great Malvern on Tuesday after the staff failed to make the 1,000 yard journey from Snow Hill station in time.

Incredibly, the train operator has admitted that health and safety rules mean conductors are BANNED from walking between stations because they are carrying money.

Yet commuters who were delayed by the cancellations were left furious by the taxi policy.

Computer science student Daniel Mander, 19, was stuck at University station and his journey home to Bromsgrove was delayed by around 40 minutes.

He wrote to London Midland on Twitter: “Could you please pass on that it is generally quicker to walk between the two stations!”

Mr Mander, who pays £275 for a three-month rail ticket, later told the Mail: “The two stations are a five minute walk apart. With the traffic in the city centre I would imagine that it takes longer by taxi.

“I know that myself and a lot of other commuters are getting extremely fed up of the poor service from London Midland.’’

A spokesman for Passenger Focus, a commuter support group, said: “Clearly this was irritating for passengers, so we’ll establish from London Midland why its staff were unable to walk.”

But a London Midland spokeswoman said it was company policy to provide taxis for conductors travelling between stations for safety reasons.

She said: “We apologise to passengers who were affected by the cancellation of the 17.49 Birmingham New St – Hereford and 17.59 Birmingham New St – Great Malvern services.

“The two conductors who were due to work these trains were stuck in a broken down taxi in Birmingham city centre.

“For the safety and protection of its employees, it is London Midland’s policy to provide taxis for conductors travelling between stations as they carry cash and card reading equipment.”

The distance between the two stations is around half a mile and can be walked in 12 minutes, according to Google Maps.