Birmingham taxi firm TOA celebrates 50th anniversaryBIRMINGHAM’S oldest taxi firm TOA has clocked up a marathon half-century on the road.
The milestone marked five full decades since the launch of the company, which revolutionised the taxi system.
Prior to TOA, customers had to book a cab by calling a telephone box at the front of taxi ranks in Digbeth, New Street Station or Snow Hill Station. The first driver on the rank would answer the call and pick up the job.
But the system was consigned to history when a group of Birmingham drivers got together in 1961 and purchased a handful of radios to form the Taxi Owners’ Association Radio System.
Taxis then went on to fit radio in cabs which allowed drivers to go from one job to the next without having to drive back to the ranks.
TOA moved into their first office in 1961 on Waterloo Street, later moving to Edward Road, Balsall Heath, and then on to Tindal Street before the move to Harborne, its home for the last 35 years.
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