Taxi Driver Online

monopoly ?

Boro Cars has snapped up rival firm Blueline & Marton.

The firms, which a court heard was once engaged in a “bitter dispute”, have agreed a deal which will see Boro Cars take ownership of the Borough Road company.

It comes under a year since Boro Cars merged with Redcar’s J&P Taxis, creating Britain’s third biggest private hire operator.

Sources claim this latest deal is worth a seven figure sum. A Boro Cars spokesperson said finances of the deal were confidential.

However Blueline won’t be folded into Boro Cars massive fleet, with bosses vowing to let the firm continue to trade independently.

“As the new owners, Middlesbrough Borough Cars Ltd plan to invest in the latest available technology for the benefit of all Blueline & Marton drivers and customers,” said a Boro Taxis spokesperson.

“Customers will see no change to the high quality service currently provided by Blueline & Marton Cars. All drivers and office staff have been retained, and the business will continue to trade independently.”

The deal comes less than two years since Blueline shareholder Ansear Akbar claimed Boro Cars boss Mohammed Bashir was part of a gang who smashed up his Range Rovers with baseball bats and assaulted passengers.

The then 36-year-old was cleared of dangerous driving after claiming Mr Bashir, his sons, a nephew and another Boro Cars driver carried out the violent attack.

During the trial, he also claimed Cleveland Police were “in the pocket” of Mr Bashir.

Both the force and Boro Cars strongly denied the claims.

Since 2011, Blueline has gone from a 20-car fleet to having 165 vehicles, while employing 190 drivers.

Boro Cars snap up rival taxi firm

Boro Taxis was launched in 1982 by Mr Bashir with just three cars,

Last year, it invested £2m in 100 new cars to update and renew its fleet.

A spokesperson for Mr Bashir: “From our point of view, any past dispute is settled.

“Now the Tees Valley has two outstanding business that can serve customers in the best way possible.”

The Gazette contacted Blueline and Middlesbrough Council, which is responsible for licensing, for comment.

is it good for an area to have one massive operator with little or no competition ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector