Private Hire Drivers go on strike to demand a minimum fare cost of £5

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Private hire drivers across Milton Keynes went on strike this morning to demand a rise in the minimum fare price. Dozens of drivers voiced their concerns over the current minimum fare price which is set at £3.20 by most private hire operators. Drivers are calling for it to be increased to £5, stating that their profits have dropped due to the increased cost of fuel, insurance, maintenance and council plating of their vehicle licensing. As reported in the MKCitizen, private hire rates in Milton Keynes are one of the lowest in the UK. Drivers went on strike for two hours between 7am and 9am, the morning rush hours. The group of PHV drivers are also calling for an end to fixed price village pickups and a fare increase for airport runs.m According to reports there is “meaningful dialogue” ongoing between drivers and operators to resolve the discontent. Are you a private hire or hackney carriage driver in the UK? What’s your minimum fare? In Milton Keynes the start rate for a licensed hackney carriage driver is £3.

November 05, 2018 at 09:20PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Police crackdown on Taxi and private hire vehicle defects see a number of drivers being suspended

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Derbyshire road police carried out checks on taxi and private hire vehicles to make sure they were up to the safety standards required for the industry. Several issues were found with a number of vehicles. Problems included corrosion, lights that were not properly secured and a fractured suspension. The task force spent around six hours checking over vehicles which led to a number of drivers having their licence suspended. One private hire driver had his licence suspended for having the cars battery insecurely fitted and an insecure headlamp. The vehicle licence was not secured to the vehicle properly also.

A licence was suspended of another private hire driver because the vehicles brake light was out and the CV gaitor was split. Both front tyres were also without sufficient air.

A third private hire driver was suspended and handed a prohibition notice for having a fractured suspension coil spring which had become detached from its lower seating point.

Hackney carriage taxis were not without criticism too, with one driver having his licence suspended for having corrosion within 30cm of the lower rear passenger seat mount. The steering idler box was also not secure.

As highlighted in the DerbyshireLive, PG9 prohibition notices are issued for mechanical problems or for the condition of a vehicle’s bodywork and equipment. Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit said that although some drivers have been rightly taken off the road while the vehicle defects are fixed, the operation was not a success as the situation never improves.

November 05, 2018 at 01:36PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

California Uber driver arrested after attempted kidnapping

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An Uber driver has been arrested in Santa Monica, California, accused of an attempted kidnapping.

35-year-old Kaled Elasyedsa Ali from Anaheim, had led police on a chase, which resulted in two people jumping from the Uber drivers vehicle.

It is believed that the driver had held the female passenger against her will, preventing her from leaving the vehicle.

Three other calls were made to the police alleging the similar incidents involving other passengers, it was also reported that the driver may have had a gun.

Police officers attempted to stop the car, which resulted in a chase. They eventually managed to force the driver to pull over and a male and a female were rescued from the vehicle, with the driver taken into custody.

The two passengers who leapt from the vehicle escaped with minor injuries.

The driver has been charged with kidnapping and evading arrest and is being held on bail of $100,000.

November 05, 2018 at 12:21PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Steve Kenton THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

mytaxi pledges to match driver tips to support military veterans this Remembrance Sunday

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mytaxi, Europe’s leading taxi e-hailing app has today announced a Remembrance Sunday promotion where the company will be matching any tips given to drivers across the UK through the app on Sunday 11th November.

All of the proceeds will be split between the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, which mytaxi has supported for a number of years and the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

mytaxi is an app which enables licensed black cab drivers to connect with passengers in their area. They work closely with local taxi drivers to ensure mytaxi customers have the best possible experience and most importantly feel safe whilst travelling. mytaxi is available in seven cities across the UK; London, Edinburgh, Oxford, Brighton, Manchester, Reading and Nottingham. Frances Luczyc Wyhowska, Vice-President at Taxi Charity for Military Veterans has said: “We are very grateful to mytaxi for their generosity. We have been supported by mytaxi for a number of years and their donations go towards helping the war disabled and veterans by providing entertainment and outings. The charity relies solely on donations and the money raised helps fund more outings and entertainment for our veterans.” John H, a taxi driver from London said: “Driving around London on Remembrance Sunday you see so many people coming out to remember the fallen and respect the veterans. In our job we meet lots of veterans and hearing some of their stories is one of the best parts of my job. It’s an unwritten rule in the black taxi trade to always give veterans a free journey whenever we pick them up. It is a great gesture from mytaxi to tip match on Remembrance Day.” David Savage, General Manager at mytaxi UK commented: “Remembrance Sunday is always a hugely important moment in the UK to give thanks to all who sacrificed in their service. As we mark the end of the WW1 centenary, this is even more poignant. We are pleased to be able to support Taxi Charity for Military Veterans and the great work they do, and we also wanted to extend our support to the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.”

November 05, 2018 at 10:03AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber set to resume it's self-driving program on public roads eight months after one of it's vehicles killed a pedestrian crossing the road

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Uber will soon resume its self-driving testing program on public roads after eight months on the sidelines. Uber was responsible for the first fatally involving an autonomous vehicle when it failed to detect and stop when pedestrian Elaine Herzberg walked across a street in Tempe, Arizona in the dark. The fatal collision triggered Uber to halt all public road testing of its self-driving program, but nearly eights months later they have reportedly filed a request with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to test self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh. Uber has put together a mandate of safety reviews that they say will improve its “safety culture.” Some new features include: • Making safety part of hiring and selection process

• Creating an anonymous reporting system for safety concerns • Improving object detection and classification • Building a consistent set of safety performance metrics • Limit mission specialists to four hours per day in the driver seat Some features are already currently in place and are being executed according to Forbes. Uber have also confirmed that they now will operate all self-driving testing with two mission specialists in any given vehicle. Previously it had been a single person that was given the responsibility to ensure the safe operations of their driverless cars. Uber’s self driving program has racked up two million autonomous miles, eight million less than its main rival in this field, Waymo.

November 05, 2018 at 09:53AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

At present no plans to use e-taxi bus lanes says London Mayor

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The London Mayor has confirmed there are no plans to introduce “e-taxi” bus lanes despite receiving approval from the Department for Transport.

The capital’s transport regulator recently submitted and received authorisation from the Department for Transport for e-taxi bus lane signage which has caused concern from some sections of the industry.

At a recent City Hall questions time Assembly Member Keith Prince asked the London Mayor Sadiq Khan when the bus lanes were likely to be introduced.

The Mayor dismissed the idea and confirmed there were no current plans.

Sadiq Khan said: “Approval from the Department for Transport was needed for zero emission capable taxi signage to be put in place at taxi-only charging bays. TfL took the opportunity to gain approval for "e-taxi" versions of all other relevant signage. “As you may be aware, I committed to looking into ZEC taxi rank provisions as part of my Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan. At present, there are no plans to use any of the e-taxi signs other than those for taxi-only charging points and ZEC taxi rank.”

November 04, 2018 at 08:14PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Black Taxi numbers rapidly dropping in Liverpool since the rise of Uber

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Liverpool's black taxi trade has seen a decline in licence numbers since the arrival of ride-hailing app Uber.

New government figures show a rapid increase of private hire licences that have been issued as drivers flock to join the tech giants from Silicon Valley.

Figures show that private hire licences now outnumber hackney carriage licences, with many taxi drivers pointing the finger at the lack of regulations put in place to cap the amount of Phv licences that are issued.

Surrounding areas have also seen a major increase in Phv licences with Sefton being the most notable. Figures have grown from 3,399 in 2017 to 4,286 the same time this year.

Many taxi drivers say that drivers licensed outside of Liverpool drive into the city centre to pick up work from ride-hailing apps making it even more difficult to earn a living.

According to a report in the Liverpool Echo, there are now, across Merseyside, three private hire drivers to every one hackney carriage.

All fingers point towards the Deregulation Act 2015 which has left loop holes allowing “out of town” drivers pick up work in areas that they are not licensed in.

Taxi drivers in Liverpool claim they are now not only competing with private hire drivers from Liverpool, but also from areas as far afield as Birmingham and Manchester.

The Mayor of Liverpool is a big advacote of having a specific Liverpool City Region licence that all private hire drivers would have to adhere to.

Taxi drivers are now deeply concerned that the industry is being eroded by the huge amounts of private hire licences that are being handed out.

Uber has said that although cross border hiring is not an illegal process, it has put into place a geofencing system in certain locations to help eradicate drivers picking up work in areas they are not licensed.

November 04, 2018 at 06:14PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Uber owes struggling drivers £720 million as it drags out tribunal appeal

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Tech giant Uber owes a staggering £720 million to its work force after a court ruling entitled them to holiday pay, a minimum wage and rest breaks.

But it could be years before the company who lost a tribunal two years ago could be forced to pay up – if at all. The San Francisco headquartered company which has 40,000 drivers registered in the UK and uses EU loopholes to avoid paying tax is refusing to honour the ruling made at the central London employment tribunal in 2016. Lawyers from Leigh Day, acting for the GMB union, says each of the 40,000 drivers are all owed almost £11,000 in wages and more than £8,000 in holiday pay. But Uber is refusing to pay up as it racks up tens of thousands of pounds in an appeals process which is unlikely to be settled any time soon. It comes as a survey from Ridester showed drivers in the US are not satisfied with their Uber earnings. “These figures lay bare the human cost of Uber continuing to refuse to accept the ruling,” said GMB legal director Sue Harris. “While the company is wasting money losing appeal after appeal, drivers are up to £18,000 out of pocket. “That’s thousands of drivers struggling to pay their rent, for feed their families. “It’s time Uber admits defeat and pays up. “The company needs to stop wasting money dragging its lost cause through the courts.

“Instead, Uber should do the decent thing and give drivers the rights to which those courts have said they are legally entitled.”

Fareed Baloch of zoom.taxisaid the numbers “highlighted that drivers are not better off working for Uber despite the claims made by the company.” “Uber have used some unsavoury working practises to try to dominate the market and now instead of looking after its drivers – after that big campaign in Westminster Magistrates Court about how they were a ‘different’ kind of company – they are avoiding paying them basic rights by using their financial clout in a long drawn out legal process. But consumers have a really important role to play if they want to put an end to the dubious ethics of the gig economy: they have to use local companies who provide rights to their workers.” Last year politicians slammed Uber who they accused of ‘free riding’ on the welfare state after more and more evidence was uncovered of drivers requiring benefits to top up their incomes. Frank Field MP, Work and Pensions Committee chairman, accused the gig economy of “free-riding” on the welfare state and “avoiding all their responsibilities to profit from this bogus ‘self-employed’ designation while ordinary taxpayers pick up the tab.” He added: “This inquiry has convinced me of the need to offer ‘worker’ status to the drivers who work with those companies as the default option.

“This status would be a much fairer reflection of the work they undertake, which seems to fall between what most of us would think of as ‘self-employed’ or ’employed’.

“It would also protect them from some of the appalling practices that have been reported to the committee in this inquiry.” Uber has also been avoiding VAT by exploiting a loophole in how the tax is collected for business-to-business sales across EU borders. It treats its 40,000 UK drivers as separate businesses, each too small to register for VAT.

The global company, which claimed to make revenues of £1.9 billion in the first three months of 2018, paid just £411,000 in tax in the UK in 2016.

November 04, 2018 at 02:41PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Fareed Baloch - zoom.taxi THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

“Cabbies failed by the Met” says LTDA

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Cabbies are being left at the mercy of a prolific gang of thieves operating in West London because the police are refusing to investigate their crimes. Dozens of victims have been posting their stories online and contacting the LTDA to speak of their experiences at the hands of the thugs who prowl the Edgware Road and Lisson Grove. In the last few weeks alone, Gary Illidge was left “terrified” after being targeted by the gang, which escaped with his money bag after surrounding him in Piccadilly. Fellow driver Ray Coggin was forced to flee from the gang as one of them reached through his window – “ I didn’t care if I took his arm with me,” he said, “it’s scary out there.” Steven Van Gelder was also targeted twice, once in Lisson Grove and another time by what he believes to be a different gang in Stanhope Place. And trade stalwart George Vyse was seriously injured when he was targeted by the gang. In virtually all the cases the police have basically said that they will not be investigating further despite having reams of evidence, photographs and even CCTV footage, that could help bring the culprits to justice. The gang struck in Piccadilly after hailing Gary Illidge’s taxi in Edgware. Four of them left the cab and two walked, while a third approached the passenger window and pulled out a credit card. Gary opened the window and told him he had to use the machine in the back of the cab, but the thief pretended not to understand while his accomplice walked round the front. As Gary looked round to see what he was up to the other thief leaned into the cab and stole the money bag. Gary, who has been a cab driver for seven and half years, said the incident left him frightened of going to work by the incident. He said: “I’m literally terrified and look for any excuse not to go to work but I have to. What worries me the most is the fact the police are not going to investigate or to check CCTV so that even if they don’t catch them now they could so in the future. I went to West Central which was closed, and the sign basically says that if you are not being attacked report the crime online. “Then basically they came back to say they will not be pursuing the investigation. It scares me to think what might happen if someone tries to stop them.” The gang often asks to be taken to Church Street, which is a dead end. They claim that a wheelchair using relative will be joining them and while the driver sets out the ramp, one of them steals phones, wallets and money bags. The gang used the ramp story when they targeted TAXI columnist Al Fresco last month, escaping with cards, his cab licence and cash. Al was left dismayed by the lack of concern from the police and depressed by the incident which took place on the day he returned to work after a lay off for an operation. The LTDA has written to complain to Commissioner Cressida Dick and is also in the process of raising the issue with the Home Secretary, Sajid David.

November 04, 2018 at 07:58AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI LTDA THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Permission granted by High Court to review Judge’s decison to relicense Uber in London

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Taxi drivers in London have moved a step closer to legally action against Judge Emma Arbuthnot’s decision to relicense ride-hailing firm Uber earlier this year. The group working under the name United Taxi Action Group have been granted permission by the High Court to Judicially Review the decision taken by Judge Emma Arbuthnot to grant Uber a 15-month operators licence. The action spearheaded by taxi driver representatives United Cabbies Group has instructed senior commercial QC to provide a legal opinion on taking legal action against Transport for London, Westminster Magistrates Court and Uber along with support from from other keys members of the London taxi industry. The UCG say it is now time for drivers to support action for the right earned by completing the Knowledge of London, abiding by strict regulations enforced by TfL and being forced to drive a prescribed purpose-built vehicle which is both Wheelchair Accessible and subject to very rigorous Conditions of Fitness. “This is an unprecedented legal challenge against Uber, Transport for London and Westminster Magistrates Court. It will shock many how Uber operate and are allowed to operate under the watchful blindness of the regulatory body there to protect” says the legal team working on the action Robert Griffiths QC and Barrister Stuart Jessop of 6 Pump Court, Temple. In a statement made the UCG in September they added: “It has long been known by members of the trade that Uber operates a model which is identical to hailing and therefore infringes London taxi drivers’ exclusive right to ply for hire. This action will seek to address that injustice. “In this action we will forcefully pursue the argument that TfL knew or ought to have known that Uber is not and has never been a fit and proper person to hold an Operators’ Licence. “One of the many reasons why it will be argued that Uber is not a fit and proper person includes issues relating to its corporate structure and fiscal operations. “This is a concerted, comprehensive and unprecedented action against key parties including the regulatory body (TfL) and will seek to bring each and all parties to account for their part in the damage caused to our 360-year-old trade. “Other similar actions are exclusively seeking damages, but this action will seek more than damages for any previous loss. It will seek to protect our exclusive right to ply for hire and ensure that PHV drivers and London Taxi drivers compete fairly. “It will seek to protect the trade from current and further threats to its exclusive right to ply for hire and ensure that the distinct Two-Tier System is restored and not eroded.” “We will seek to protect and preserve your exclusive right to ply for hire from current and future threats, the two-tier system has to be restored” added Darren Rogers from Chiltern Law Although the initial instructions have been given by UCG, this is not a singularly UCG action. The United Trade Action Group (UTAG) is made up from a “wider group of taxi supporters”. The UTAG will rely on donations made via a crowdfunder to proceed.

November 03, 2018 at 03:14PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Waymo hits 10 million miles of self-driving as they move closer to a fully autonomous Taxi service

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Autonomous tech giants Waymo recently celebrated hitting a new milestone when it completed 10 million miles driving on public roads.

As it continues its pursuit to offer a fully self-driving taxi service to the world, they released a video that features a lot of new footage of how it's vehicles operate without a human driver.

Can a fully autonomous taxi service really work? Can technology really replace the instinctive nature of a human? Do we even really need a car to drive itself?

These are all questions that will no doubt rumble on even when driverless cars start to roll out on a larger scale across the globe.

November 03, 2018 at 01:16PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

London Mayor will not change taxi delicensing payments despite poor take up

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The London Mayor will not make changes to delicensing payments offered to taxi drivers despite its poor uptake.

Currently taxi drivers in the capital are offered between £1,200 to £5,000 to delicensing their diesel taxis and make the change to a cleaner electric taxi. Taxis between ten and eleven years old are offered the maximum £5,000 which some drivers argue is well below the market value of the taxi. Drivers owning vehicles fourteen to fifteen years old, which are in their last year of service, are offered just £1,200. As of 7th September 2018 only 129 Taxi delicensing payments have been made to drivers since the electric taxi was launched at the start of the year. London Assembly member Keith Prince asked the London Mayor Sadiq Khan whether he would review the structure of the scheme to encourage increased uptake at the recent Mayors question time session. The London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “London's filthy air is a public health crisis and taxis are a major contributor to pollution, especially in central London, because of the very limited choice - until recently - of only diesel vehicles available for use. “That's why I have put in place a range of measures to help our world-famous trade become the greenest by giving drivers the financial support, priority and charging infrastructure they need to switch to cleaner models. “I will continue to keep this package of measures under review to increase the uptake of zero-emission capable taxis in London to contribute to my wider air quality plans.”

November 03, 2018 at 09:01AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Police warn drivers not to accept payment for a trip that exceeds the fuel cost, even if it's from a friend because you could be considered as an unlicensed Taxi driver

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Drivers all over the UK undoubtably offer rides to friends and family who throw a few quid into the “petrol pot” so-to-speak, but how many are actually aware that if they accept payment that exceeds the cost of the fuel used for that trip may land them with a hefty fine and even a driving ban. Only licensed taxi drivers and private hire drivers are legally allowed to make a profit from lifts, so technically, if you’re taking more cash than you’re spending you could be considered an unlicensed taxi, which could come with a heavy fine of over £2,000. As highlighted originally in The Mirror, it can obviously be very difficult for the authorities to know if someone without a valid licence to do so is making an extra few quid from any given journey, but social media groups that advertise local lifts in exchange for fuel have given them a platform to track down offenders. A Facebook group created in Bournemouth and Poole was investigated by Dorset Police after it was reported that up to 5,000 people were involved in the illegal lift service. A spokesperson for the police stressed their concerns surrounding the safety of such groups that offer rides in exchange for cash. Even if the driver doesn’t accept payment that exceeds the fuel cost you have to take into consideration the fact that you are entering the vehicle of a stranger. Major implications involving insurance issues need to also be considered by anyone considering paying for a trip by someone who doesn’t hold a valid taxi or PHV licence. Advice from the police is for the driver to get confirmation from their insurance company before accepting “fuel money” from a passenger because it may in fact invalidate the vehicles cover. As we know, driving without insurance is illegal and may result in the vehicle being seized, a fine, points on your licence and even a driving ban. If an accident was to occur, both driver and passenger could find themselves having to cover any of the implications that come with being involved in a serious collision. The general rule is; if you’re unsure of whether or not you are paying more than the fuel cost of a journey, don’t pay at all. Or even more so, if you require a trip somewhere then leave it to the professionals and use a licensed taxi or pre-book a private hire vehicle from a reputable operator.

November 03, 2018 at 08:41AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Michael Murphy THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Motorists lose out as retailers refuse to cut petrol prices in October despite drop in wholesale cost

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The price of petrol remained unchanged in October despite a drop in wholesale costs which should have been passed on to motorists at the pump.

RAC Fuel Watch data shows there was a 3.5p fall in the wholesale price yet unleaded started and finished the month at 130.6p a litre. This means the average cost of filling a 55-litre family car with petrol has stayed at £71.84 when it should have been nearly £2 less had retailers done the right thing and reflected the lower wholesale price on the forecourt. Even though conditions were ripe for a petrol price cut from the middle of the month the big four supermarket fuel retailers – which play a vital role in setting the market for fuel prices across the UK – refused to lower the price for drivers. It was not until the end of the month that Asda finally reduced unleaded by an average of 2.4p across all its forecourts. But this has sadly not led to other retailers following suit by lowering their prices and has therefore had little effect either on the average price of unleaded at the supermarkets, or on the UK average. The average price of petrol at Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons actually increased by 0.6p a litre in October (126.88p to 127.48p) despite the drop in the wholesale cost. Diesel, however, suffered its fourth consecutive monthly price increase, rising by 2.38p from 134.50p to 136.88p, making the cost of a 55-litre tank £75.28. Buying it at a supermarket saves 3p a litre with the average price standing at 133.67p a litre at the end of October, having risen 2.35p from 131.32p. Refilling with petrol at a motorway service area, however, now costs an average of 149.32p – a slight reduction of 0.3p a litre on the start of the month when it was 149.62p. Frighteningly, a litre of diesel at a motorway forecourt is an average of 155.22p – an increase of 2.7p in October. A tank of petrol is therefore £82.29 while diesel is an eye-watering £85.37. RAC fuel spokesperson Simon Williams said: “Every motorist driving a petrol car should feel aggrieved that the price of a litre stayed the same in October when it should have fallen by more than 3p. The biggest retailers who are responsible for selling the most fuel have taken drivers for a ride. “In doing so they have inadvertently but categorically proved that ‘rocket and feather’ pricing does exist. Had wholesale costs increased at the same rate the supermarkets would have passed these on at the pump straightaway just as they did in April and May this year. “Unfortunately, other retailers that don’t buy wholesale fuel as frequently are just as guilty as they have now had plenty of time to cut their prices. They were, more than likely, waiting for the supermarkets to lead the way, but this surely isn’t a valid excuse. “So while there are times when fuel pricing in relation to wholesale prices does operate transparently, sadly October just wasn’t one of those months. “We strongly urge all retailers to lower their petrol prices in line with the reduced wholesale cost of unleaded. And, with the pound gaining strength against the dollar on 1 November, there will be even greater scope for a cut.”

November 03, 2018 at 07:58AM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Driver sacked for refusing to transport poppies

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A taxi driver in Birmingham has been dismissed after refusing to take boxes of Remembrance poppies it was alleged.

The driver who was working for KMR Cars was involved in the incident with a passenger at the Perry Common Royal British Legion. The car company said an allegation was then made which involved the drivers refusal to accompany a passenger who wished to transport poppies. After an investigation into the incident KMR Cars confirmed the dismissal of the driver. A spokesperson from KMR Cars said: “Due to this gross negligence of the driver and incompetence by not alerting the office of him not picking up the passenger KMR Cars have dismissed the Driver who cannot be named (due to Data Protection Act) and he shall no longer be representing KMR Cars any longer.” “All drivers are vetted and Licensed by their local council, therefore this matter has also been reported to Enforcement at Birmingham City Council (the identified drivers council) and the drivers’ details such as Badge Number, Vehicle Details have now been passed on to them and they are looking into this as a matter of urgency. We are now working with the Birmingham City Council regarding this issue and are assisting them in any way possible.” “KMR Cars would like to apologise for the outrage that has been a result of this incident whilst we have needed time to gather information.”

November 02, 2018 at 08:52PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT

Taxis set for busy day as strikes set to hit Central, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines next week

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TfL today advised customers that a planned Tube strike will affect the Central, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines from Wednesday 7 November.

Demand for taxis is expected to be high.

This will mean no service on the Central and Waterloo & City lines all day on Wednesday 7 November. On the Piccadilly line, the action starts later on Wednesday 7, so customers should complete journeys by 13.30. There will also be no service on the Piccadilly line on the morning of Thursday 8 November, with trains resuming at around 15.00. The action is being carried out by members from both Aslef and RMT on the Central and Waterloo & City lines and by RMT members on the Piccadilly line. Further talks with both unions are planned, but should the action go ahead some stations on the Tube network will be busier than usual; all other lines will operate as normal. These include central London stations like King's Cross St Pancras, Liverpool Street, Green Park, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Tottenham Court Road, as well as hubs outside central London such as Stratford, Finsbury Park, Leytonstone and Ealing Broadway. Nigel Holness, Director of Network Operations for London Underground, said: 'The strike action called by both RMT and Aslef on 7 November is totally unjustifiable. 'We will keep customers up-to-date with the latest travel advice to help them re-plan their journeys, and will continue to talk to the union leadership in order to try and resolve these disputes. 'I urge the unions to call off this entirely unnecessary action, which will only cause disruption to our customers, while those discussions are ongoing.'

November 02, 2018 at 04:51PM https://ift.tt/2ufVjKI Perry Richardson THESE POSTS ARE NOT OUR ENDORSEMENT