Taxi Driver Online

Private Hire, Edinburgh ?

http://www.addisonlee.com/

Be a good long term investment.

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IDFIMH

Well, it was predicted that the PH, would make huge inroads into the Edinburgh customer transport market over the last ten years, so no surprise there.

Now it's game over.

Enjoy boys, no more than you deserve. You've fu*ked your whole trade.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Oh and I'm guessing this is Addison Lee buying up ECPH?

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

You're spot on about ECPH getting bought over Gaz but not sure if it'll be Addison Lee though. They are definitely in the frame and front runners but anyone who comes up with the wonga will be entertained.

I am not sure the ECPH brand and model sits well with the Addison Lee brand, buying a pig in a poke comes to mind. But if nothing else I'm sure it's given the London boys an idea of what potential there is for a professional operation to seize in Scotland's capital and beyond!

As usual you are quite close to the story and scenario however I must take issue with your statement that the 2 cooperatives have flecked their trade. It's only by them providing a first class Hackney service over the years that has stopped Addison Lee and the likes taking a foothold here. I agree mistakes have been made that would have delayed the inevitable but we are where we are.

Rather than sit and kick the current taxi model in Edinburgh why don't you look into the Addison Lee business model and see if that fits the Edinburgh account market? They operate a truly first class and professional service but at a high customer price. There minimum fare is £13-£14 and this is for a maximum journey of 2 miles with the rest of their fare structure on a pro rata basis that would make you pull your hair out! I know that doesn't apply to you but it would all the account managers of the big businesses CRT and City currently serve.

The Script writes:

The way to provide a first class Hackney service was to utilise the logistical strength of the two major cooperatives acting as one, and close to 1000 cars providing a service that could not be matched by any Ph company, citywide.
However, this went against both committees looking to line their own pockets at their members’ expense and that of the trade as a whole.

As for Addison Lee, I checked out their website, and it strikes me. They are about a fully integrated transport solution, Ph, VIP, Coach services, Courier services, etc.... And they have the means to bring this to the capital, whether they will or not is another matter.

Oh and let's not forget that ECPH, have a 30 million-pound airport contract as a serious bargaining chip, so it's bound to be on their radar.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out what that will mean to City and CRT but then again, I think it would pay certain committeemen to run both companies into the ground, while blaming it on the competition.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Gaz, why do you think a 1000+ fleet of hacks would stop the growth or invasion of PHC? You miss the point, you could have 2000+ hacks in Edinburgh but with any size of PHC fleet this gives the customer a choice. The glaring mistake that both cooperatives have made over the years is not to have their own PHC arm thereby giving customers a choice but keeping the profit and a degree of control.

I agree. I even supported the move to bring Ph into CRT. The proposal got shot down in flames by ignorant stupid taxi drivers, who couldn't see the writing on the wall. Oh and that was nearly twenty years ago.

As for the Hacks and their service to the public, there was never a single company that had enough cars, especially at peak times, to cover the work efficiently. And because CRT and City wouldn't work together to meet public demand, they started hemorrhaging work to the Ph. It wasn't long before Satellite ph companies started popping up all over the City, Leith, Gilmerton, Corstorphine, Longstone, Portobello and so on... This forced the hacks out of the suburbs and into the City Centre to work.

The above is partially why you have the situation you do now, with ECPH being awarded the Airport contract.


I hear where you are coming from, but I sat down with the then manager of CRT and explained what was happening, and he agreed. The trouble was that committees of both companies were working to protect their own interests by keeping City, and CRT divided. Oh and nothing has changed, if fact, it got worse because now City and CRT are working to expand ph interests, whether directly or indirectly, if you get my meaning.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

That's quite funny.

You clearly have little experience of the sat nav slaves who struggle to communicate in English, tout, ignore road signs, and overcharge at every opportunity.

I do.

You're only lucky that the Hacks in London have enjoyed a privileged position in the customer transport market for some time. In Edinburgh, they've been usurped by Ph, especially now that the hacks have lost the Airport contract.

Oh and Sat Nav's work pretty well in and around Edinburgh.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Didn't know you were familiar with the practices of Central Taxis, ComCab, City Cabs, ECPH and Capital Cars all here in the capital of bonnie Scotland!

There are as many hacks here that have a Sat Nav glued to the windscreen as there are PHC with the same. Passing the topographical test (brief) here isn't just by well educated white men and women with a good grasp and command of the Queens English, many of other persuasions sit alongside on the ranks today.

GBC, please don't think that a well organised outfit like Addison Lee will be unsuccessful in Edinburgh because of their driver ethnicity policy, I am more concerned about their financial and political clout. A company that recently sold for £300 million and has all the same successful management team in place, that's a threat to the cooperatives here.

I'm from Edinburgh thanks. Born and bred.

Addison Lee recently cut their fleet by over a thousand as Hailo and Get Taxi have taken so much work back.

That's the future, Apps. It generates millions in London, and that will be Addison Lees starting point if they arrive up north.

The licensed Taxi industry need to get their apps out there now and into people's faces, or approach Hailo / Get taxi if you're an independent driver.

I don't consider myself privileged, like the other 25,000 cabbies that took time to complete the London Knowledge, I think it was a position that was earned, and of course is open to one and all. Black, white, Asian and even women !

Who are the taxis that rank at the airport then? I thought the separate airport taxis were long gone?

Privileged as in the group position, you hold in London. And I agree. Your status is well earned.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Well, it's the PH, that is to say, Edinburgh City Private Hire (ECPH) and their back-up City Cabs, which is a Hack company.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"