Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers fight increase in fees

TAXI drivers are fighting a massive hike in fees to pick up passengers from Stoke Station. They are angry at Virgin Trains plans to increase permit fees from £141 last year to £236.

Stoke-on-Trent Hackney Carriage Association had planned to protest outside the station at 10am yesterday. But the proposed one-day strike was cancelled after Virgin Trains asked for talks about the fees on Monday.

Association vice chairman, taxi driver Shahnwaz Mirza, said: "I got a call at 8.30am yesterday from the station manager asking me to call off the protest. "We are going to put everything on hold until we have had more talks."

The father-of-four, aged 30, from Trentham, added: "When we heard how much the fee was going up, we didn't know what to do. "Work has been very slow. We are living more or less hand to mouth and have difficult days where we have to work 16 hour days.

"Fuel costs have gone through the roof this year, and now we are told we need to find all this extra money to pick-up fares at the station. "The taxi rank is to the side of the station. For every 12 passengers who get off a train, eight leave through the front and only four go to the side.

"Those who leave through the front are being picked up by private hire taxis, touting for business illegally. "At the very least we would like Virgin to put marshals at the station directing passengers to the taxi rank. At Crewe Railway Station the taxis are at the front, they don't lose any business. "If the talks do not resolve the situation, we will take action and the protest will be back on."

Cab driver Abdul Rauf, aged 43, from Shelton, who is the new association chairman, said: "With the credit crunch, business has gone down anyway. " A Virgin Trains spokesman said: "Negotiations are ongoing and talks over the proposed costs will take place on Monday."

_________________
IDFIMH

Sounds like their best course of action is to all not renew, and form their own in sight rank and keep the PH out of the way unless they are booked.

They could be being picked up by PH that have been pre booked that's not totally unheard is it

_________________
Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

The Stoke lads really aren't happy.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ne ... ticle.html

_________________
IDFIMH

But a shining light is on the case.

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ne ... ticle.html

_________________
IDFIMH

But the increase, even though massive, is hundreds less than other places.

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

But maybe the other places have allowed the massive increases without a fight.

It would appear the lads in Stoke aren't in the take it up the ar** gang.

_________________
IDFIMH

Spoke with them today and gonna see them on Monday

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Good, I wish you well.

_________________
IDFIMH

I'll need it......fraser eagle aka Connect point Uk are issuing the permits

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Then maybe the NTA need to join up with others and complain, about the way the train companies deal with the taxi trade, to The Rail Regulator at Competition@orr.gsi.gov.uk .

_________________
IDFIMH

good idea

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I pick up regularly from Stoke station, pre-booked of course

_________________
Si

I'm reliably informed that the GMB are meeting soon with the Rail Regulator, and also reliably informed that Mr Brighton Breezy would welcome any further evidence via a PM or e-mail.

Maybe it's time some drivers stopped taking it up the rear, and fought back.

_________________
IDFIMH

Anyone who pays to work a station needs there head examined.
What can any union do except stop drivers from entering the stations and letting the punters find them outside
A full week of punters having to walk out the station to find a cab would possibly get all permits thrown out
The likes of GBC does not pay anything in London so why should the rest of you
The unions should be calling on all rail company's to scrap all charges