Birmingham cabbies agree deal to return to New Street Station Redevelopment of rail hub left just 11 spaces on the rank to serve 300 passengers per hour at peak times
The new Birmingham New Street station The new Birmingham New Street station
Birmingham black cab drivers who had refused to serve New Street Station in a row over parking have returned to work after securing concession.
The drivers have been locked in a row after the station’s partial redevelopment left them with just 11 taxi rank spaces outside and an overflow 47 space car park around the corner – for which they were charged 60p a time.
They argued it was impossible to serve 300 rail passengers an hour at peak times of the day and would leave visitors with a poor first impression of the city and drivers have taken sporadic strike action.
Drivers Mohammed Akram, Ansar Hussain and Gulbahra Khan outside New Street Station, Birmingham Drivers Mohammed Akram, Ansar Hussain and Gulbahra Khan outside New Street Station, Birmingham
Now, following talks with the city council, Network Rail and police it has been agreed to waive the 60p charge, provide rain shelters for customers and a mid-point feeder rank between the car park and station taxi ranks.
The council has also agreed to increase enforcement to stop private hire cars who it is claimed have exploited the dispute to take customers by plying for hire illegally.
Taxi driver and trade liaison Ivan Boon said: “The talks have been productive and there have been some concessions so drivers have gone back to work for the time being.
“But there is still a long way to go, with the New Street development carrying on we need to take a long term view. Our concern was that it was passengers who were picking up the extra cost and not getting the right service.”
A Birmingham City Council spokeswoman said that the situation is complex and involves many different organisations on both sides.
She said: “As a result of talks between all interested parties, a recommendation has been drawn up that would see Network Rail waive 60p fees at St Jude’s car park, convert the car park into an official taxi rank and improve signage inside the station for the public so they are aware of the facility acting as a rank. They have also offered to construct rain shelters in the car park to address complaints that the rank in Navigation Street is open to the elements.”
source:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/lo ... ee-4076072
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