Taxi drivers fury at £1,000 per year charge from New Street Station RMT union says black cab drivers will quit station taxi rank over new charges of up to £1,000 per year Birmingham's black cab drivers are up in arms after being told they will have to pay extra fees of up to £1,000 per year to pick up passengers at New Street Station .
And they are threatening to refuse to visit the station, leaving commuters stranded, unless the fee is cut.
The taxi driver’s union RMT is now meeting with Network Rail bosses over the charges which they say could see drivers forced out of business.
It adds that drivers already pay a 20p fee to the station every time they pick up a passenger there.
But Network Rail says the new fees, which are being introduced when the station fully opens on September 20 following five years of rebuilding work, are part of a policy to improve air quality by issuing higher charges for higher polluting cars.
General secretary Mick Cash said: “None of our taxi driver members will accept Network Rail’s terms. They are all united and determined that no-one will pay this extortionate fee.”
“Instead, drivers will be forced to ply for hire near the station, meaning that Network Rail’s actions will simply inconvenience passengers by making them walk further to pick up a taxi. This will have serious consequences and create severe congestion throughout the surrounding area.
“Bearing in mind that £750 million has been spent refurbishing New Street station to benefit passengers, it is appalling that one of the results will be to disrupt and inconvenience passengers with onward travel needs as taxi drivers are unfairly penalised.”
The disruption could start during 'Super September' - an unprecedented number of major events in the City Centre which have already prompted warnings of traffic chaos.
The union also complained that drivers have been patient working around the construction site for the last five years .
Network Rail said the new charge is designed to discourage older and more polluting vehicles. A spokeswoman said: “The charge is on a sliding scale, similar to the road tax, starting at around £400 per year. The £1,000 is at the higher end of the scale. This is designed to ensure better air quality and a better customer experience.”
source:
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/mi ... er-9758013
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