Taxi Driver Online

07 Feb 2008

London taxi fares to rise from April

An average passenger fare in London cabs will increase by 2.7 per cent
for the next financial year, Transport for London has announced.

Transport for London (TfL) said that the fare rise will help drivers maintain
their earnings and cover increased operating costs, particularly rises in
diesel fuel prices. The new fares will come into effect on Saturday 5 April
2008.

Fares are calculated by TfL using an agreed cost index based on national
average earnings and taxi operating costs.

Operating costs have gone up by 5.7 per cent this year, with a significant
increase of 13.3 percent in the cost of diesel fuel.

The increase in line with the cost index is 4.7 per cent, but the net
increase of 2.7 per cent for passengers is the result of removing the 20p
environmental surcharge on every journey, introduced in 2005.

The cost index, agreed with the taxi trade, has been in use since 1981 and
combines changes in operating costs with national earnings to produce a
change in average fares.

Emissions strategy

The purpose of that charge was to help taxi owners meet the requirements
of the Mayor's taxi emissions strategy.

TfL said that after three full years it had served its purpose. All taxis in
London should meet Euro III standards by the summer.

Ed Thompson, taxi and private hire director at TfL's Public Carriage Office,
said that the new fares took into account the increased costs over the year
of running a black cab.

"They protect taxi drivers' income while still providing value for money for
passengers, who enjoy a top quality service in London," he added.

The TfL Board approved the new taxi fares on Wednesday 6 February,
following consultation by the Public Carriage Office with the taxi trade and
others, including London TravelWatch.

The board also approved increases of 50p to some fixed fares for taxi
sharing schemes. These will come into effect on Saturday 5 April 2008.

There will be an increase of 50p in the fixed fare for shared trips from
Wimbledon or Southfields stations to the Wimbledon tennis tournament, a
50p increase in a number of fares from Paddington station and from
Buckingham Palace.

TfL said that these increases broadly reflected the general increase in
fares since the fixed fares were last changed.

Taxi fares are worked out according to one of three tariffs. These are as
follows:

* Tariff 1 - Monday to Friday, between 6am and 8pm
* Tariff 2 - Monday to Friday, between 8pm and 10pm, and weekends between 6am and 10pm
* Tariff 3 - nightly between 10pm and 6am, and on public holidays

Taxi fares in the evening and late at night were increased in 2001 to encourage more drivers to work at these times, improving the safe travel options available to support London's late night economy.

Average fares for 2007/08 and 2008/09 (including the current 20p environmental charge in 2007/08 fares):



Source: Director of Finance online

Does'nt everyone get a yearly increment? Ministers and MP's do.

Umm Cardiff was turned down.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

NO

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Grandad,

Well at least I can now work out that Red Ken gave the London trade a 35% increase at night.

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IDFIMH

How many years ago was that? You sound like the Evening Standard.

The botton line was, it worked, more Taxi's now work nights. Since that an even bigger incentive has happened, it's called total gridlock thanks to Thames water and their stupid inconsiderate contractor's.

i work nights it better more money and less traffic sometimes !

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FORUMS ARE A GOOD PLACE TO LET OFF STEAM ! DONT TAKE LIFE TO SERIOUSLY ..

My point isn't that the increase was undeserved, although it may have been, it's that Red Ken gave it when I have a feeling the likes of Boris (who I happen to like) wouldn't have.

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IDFIMH