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Chinese Police have pulled over a 6 seater vehicle to find 51 passengers travelling in it.

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The video shows the moment Police pulled over a vehicle to find 51 people crammed inside.

The vehicle was seen travelling slowly, swaying and almost touching the floor in Guizhou province on Sunday.

The car which is less than half the size of a minibus and was carrying as many passengers as some coaches.

The driver said he was driving all the migrants to a construction site and didn’t want to make more than one trip. The 4 seats at the back of the small minivan were removed to cram people in the back standing up.

The 3 front seats of the vehicle were taken up by the managers who amazing had the seats to themselves with seat belts on.

 The driver of the vehicle is now facing a huge fine and a ban.  

TFL unveil card payment plan for the London Taxi trade

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All black cabs could soon be forced to take card payments in a new initiative by Transport for London to help the Taxi trade compete with cashless rivels Uber.

Currently about half of all London Taxis accept card payments but this soon could change. TFL are holding a consultation with drivers and passengers before they make a decision. It is expected that they will become compulsory in the near future.

83% of passengers say they would prefer to pay by card and this is one of the factors that is said to be driving passengers away from using black cabs.

“Card payments have become a central part of the lives of Londoners over the past years – something that has only increased since the introduction of contactless payment.”

TFLs Taxi and Private hire general manager Helen Chapman.

Addison Lee and Uber united against plans to cap private hire numbers

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London’s largest private hire operator Addison Lee has found common ground with Uber is opposing Mayor Boris Johnson’s plans to cap the number of private hire vehicles in the capital.

Addison Lee however believes the solution to the increase in minicab numbers is not capping the numbers but regulation.

In an open letter to Mr Johnson and the newly elected MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Liam Griffin the chief executive of Addison Lee described the response of Transport for London to the rise of Uber and similar e hailing solutions as ‘’deplorable’’.

Mr Griffin’s letter went on to say ‘’to apply the same regulatory standards for private hire operators to app-based firms has enabled these e-hailing services to distort public perception of the wider sector’’

Mr Griffin had previously welcomed the review of the private hire regulations but went on to say the simply capping the numbers is ‘’a panic measure brought in to get TFL off the naughty step’’.

Private Hire numbers have increased by a fifth in the past year to over 78,000, Mayor Boris Johnson has said that this has led to higher congestion, more pollution and illegally parked cars.

Addison Lee has said that the failure of Transport of London to properly regulate e-hailing apps such as Uber was the cause of the problem.

Addison Lee has found common ground with many of London Taxi trade organisations.

Both Liam Griffin and The London Black Taxi Trade blame TFLs failure to regulate and the turning of a blind eye to Uber’s behaviour as the reason behind the surge in numbers and many of the issues that this brings.

TFL has so far rejected all the accusations that have been thrown at it and back in March it submitted an application to the High Court for a ruling on whether Uber and other e-hailing apps use a ‘’meter’’.

An initial hearing could be held within the next few weeks but the final decision is not expected for months, by this time it may be too late and Uber may just change their business model slightly to get around this.

Leon Daniel’s, TFLs managing director of surface transport said: ‘’We have not treated, and do not treat, Uber any differently to any other London operator and we are satisfied that Uber complies with private hire requirements.

‘’Where the requirements are met, we are legally obliged to grant an operator’s licence.’’

Today 26th May will see the latest in a series of strikes organised by the United Cabbies group and they how will see thousands of drivers, proceeding slowly from Victoria station to Tfl’s headquarters in nearby St James and we wish them the best of luck.

 

Uber’s attack on London leads to uncertainty in the Trade and a steep Drop in Black-Cab Recruits

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Since Uber was launched in London the cities iconic Black Taxis are seeing their biggest threat since their start in 1654.

London Taxi drivers who typically spend 4 years studying ‘’The Knowledge’’ learning 25,000 roads and 20,000 landmarks are seen as the highest qualified Taxi drivers in the world, no other city has a test anywhere near as difficult.

Uber launched in 2012 and since then it has been estimated that 1,200 new Uber drivers are starting up in London every month although this figure has not been confirmed by Uber.

Since 2010 the number of Private Hire vehicles licensed in London has increased by 29% and now seems to be accelerating since the launch of Uber.

Whilst the number of Private Hire drivers has increased considerably the number of London Taxi drivers has remained constant.

The increase in competition and fall in work for the traditional Black Taxi driver has led to a significant fall in Black Taxi Licence applications, data obtained by Bloomberg from Transport for London has put that figure at 20% in 2014.

 

Ascott Cab Co retailer for TX4

Ascott Cab Co appointed official retailer of TX4 London Taxi

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Today we can announce that the London Taxi Company have announce a new strategic alliance with Ascott Cab Co, appointing it as an official retailer of it’s TX4 model.

The new agreement means that Ascotts Cab Co, are able to sell the TX4 London Taxi through it’s retail dealership in Deptford, South London. Ascotts already has a great reputation in the London Taxi trade for customer service and is the first retailer outside the London Taxi Company.

Ascott Cab Company will strengthen it’s standing as the London Taxi drivers ‘’One Stop Shop’’ taking responsibility for Vehicle Plating, meter installation through digitax, Customer insurance with Quotax and the London Taxi Company retaining responsibility for product quality, vehicle registration and manufacturer warranty provision.

Ascott Cab Co retailer for TX4

Commenting on the deal, The London Taxi Company’s Vice President of UK Operations, Peter Johansen said:

“The standards that Ascott Cab Co upholds in customer care and quality perfectly reflect our values at the London Taxi Company and set a benchmark for the future. It will allow the company to take advantage of the vast market knowledge, loyalty and connection it clearly has with its customer base.”

The deal will run for a six-month trial period and, if successful, there is potential to use it as a platform for the next generation of products as the London Taxi Company looks to the future.

Andy Ascott from Ascott Cab Co said:

“This is an exciting opportunity for Ascott Cab Co and welcome recognition of the high standards we set ourselves. I think our appreciation for customer
service and the understanding of the trade in London means we’re well positioned for success now and in the future”

The London Taxi Company will be exhibiting at the Private Hire & Taxi Exhibition over the 13th and 14th May in Milton Keynes at the Millbrook Proving Ground.

 

http://www.ascottcab.com/pdfst/LTC Press Release Ascott Cab Co.pdf

London Taxi Company produce 2,000th TX4 since being taken over in 2013

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The London Taxi company have recently reached a milestone in finishing construction of its 2000th TX4 since the company was rescued from administration in Sept 2013. LTC Vice President, Peter Johansen said, “We are very pleased to have reached our 2,000th vehicle so quickly. We are confident that we will see healthy demand all the way through till the end of 2015.”

First 15 plate TX4 Taxi’s now on the road

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LTC handed out their first ever 15 plate TX4 on Sunday the 1st March 2015. The main dealership opened up especially on the Sunday to hand out new vehicles to drivers who were keen to get their new Taxi at the earliest opportunity. Mr Wadey and his wife were the first to collect the newly plated Taxi. Mr Wadey commenting on his new purchase said, ‘’my new TX4 is fantastic; it’s so much better than any other taxi I’ve ever driven! It’s more solid and a smoother ride. I’ve previously rented TX1s and TX4s so I’m thrilled to have my own vehicle. Ever since passing the Knowledge it was my intention to have my own cab.’’

 

Good luck to all those driver who are purchasing new vehicles, please see out taxi insurance information so we can offer you a policy to cover your new pride and joy.

GLA meeting

TFL announce more Taxi ranks and no change on UBER

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The GLA meeting at City Hall packed as TFL announce more ranks and no change on UBER

Yesterday morning the questions and answer session with Peter Hendy Commissioner of TFL was full to capacity and hundreds of Taxi drivers were turned away.

TFl was formally responding to the London Assembly’s Transport Committees report ‘Future Proof’ which was highly critical of TFLs current policies towards illegal touting, Taxi ranks and many other aspects.

Boris Johnson said ‘’These plans deliver on my commitment to listen to the taxi trade and help it continue to offer a first class service that is the envy of the world. Increasing the number and the type of Taxi ranks, particularly in the suburbs – is central to this aim and will help to ensure better business for cabbies and an even better service for customers.’’

TFL announced plans to invest £600,000 to raise number of cab ranks by 20% by 2020 – expanding the network to 500.

TFL also plan to make the location of taxi ranks available to app developers as well as sponsorship of late night marshals at key Taxi ranks.

Peter Hendy also announced that he will wait for the High Court’s decision regarding whether UBER are operating legally or not.

The Taxi Trade was praised by Val Shawcross and Jenny Jones for ‘understanding their trade’ and ‘suitably grilling’ Peter Hendy.

GLA meeting

Belfast Taxi driver injured during latest in a spate of Carjacking’s

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A Taxi driver has become the latest in a string of victims of Carjackers in Belfast.

The Taxi driver was sitting in his Vehicle in Distillery street around 8pm, two males approached his vehicle dragged him out injuring his shoulder and back in the process and drove off with his Cab.

His Taxi was found a short while later burnt out in Hannahstown. Operation Galleas was launched in November in response to Car crime in the city. Police have urged witnesses to come forward.

The London Taxi Company given go-ahead for new £150m plant at Ansty Park, Coventry

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Permission has finally been given for the London Taxi Company to build their new plant late on 18th Feb.

Ansty Park will become the LTC new headquarters and they are investing substantial sums of money into a research and development department, supply chain team, global sales teams and support for the assembly of new vehicles.

Initially the plant will employ 550 and in a few years’ time the plant is expected to employ in the region of 1,000.

LTC intends to invest a further £200 million to develop green technology with the aim of launching a zero emission London Taxi by 2018

The factory will differ from most other Car factories in the UK as it will be low volume using highly skilled workers and it is estimated to produce 12,000 vehicles per year.