A Liverpool taxi operator has invested £700,000 in its bid to triumph in the city’s cab wars.
Alpha Cars has launched a pilot scheme which sees hackneys and private hire taxis working side-by-side.
James Bradley, who runs the 500-fleet company, described the scheme as a “quiet revolution” in the taxi trade in Liverpool.
The pilot allows self-employed hackney drivers to operate as either hackneys or private hire vehicles, changing the mode of operation at the flick of a switch.
Mr Bradley said: “We have all read reports in Liverpool about changes in the taxi trade, mainly as a result of proposed government legislation.
“I have always felt both sides of the trade can co-exist in what is a changing landscape for the taxi world.
“So far we have six hackneys in our pilot scheme but I am convinced it will grow.
“A hackney driver can choose whether to operate as a traditional ‘hail-on-the-street’ taxi or switch to operating as a private hire taxi. Our new technology allows the driver to change modes in seconds to suit prevailing conditions.
“It means if the hackney side of the business is quiet the driver can opt to take on private hire work.”
Alpha is spending around £400,000 on creating a new call centre at its main base in Childwall, as well as around £300,000 on a new IT system and app technology.
The app allows drivers to call customers and customers to call drivers direct through the app without either knowing each other’s phone numbers.
It also links with satellite systems to ensure the nearest taxi is dispatched to the customer’s departure point.
The tracking system reports to the base office the driver’s progress towards the customer and when they pick up customers.
It also warns the office if the driver is deviating from the correct route.
Alpha is the latest Merseyside taxi operator to launch app technology with other firms such as Delta and Davy Liver Taxis also offering smartphone apps.
Mr Bradley said: “We have been using IT technology for some years, but our new customer-made network is ahead of its time.
“We have been able to work with the designers to construct a system to meet our specific needs.”
A year ago Alpha opened Liverpool city centre’s first-ever taxi hub, providing a safe indoor waiting area on Duke Street, opposite Liverpool One.
The company has applied to extend the opening hours from 2am until 4am following requests from customers.
Mr Bradley said: “The hub has worked better than we envisaged and has been welcomed by local hotels and restaurant owners. We employ security personnel in the evenings to add to the safety and security.”
Alpha’s investment follows a series of taxi-related battles in Liverpool.
In December, Liverpool council revoked the licence of Bootle-based Delta Taxis to operate in the city.
The company had failed to stick to a condition linked to its licence to have a dedicated Liverpool booking line separate from its Sefton operation.
Delta said its practices are legal and it will fight the council.
Both parties are now awaiting a court date and in the meantime Delta remains operational in Liverpool.
Meanwhile controversial ride-on-demand taxi firm Uber revealed late last year it would be opening a branch in Liverpool.
The US-based firm works by customers downloading an app and entering their credit card information.
Liverpool cabbies vowed to fight Uber and raised concerns over a “complete saturation of taxis in the city” but some ECHO readers welcomed the cheap fares the company would bring.
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