Taxi Driver Online

The headline below focuses on the micro-local aspect, as opposed to the fact that it's about the wider Warwick District Council tariffs

Anyway, quite modest increases, since it looks like it's just the flag going up, and everything else stays the same.

But it's one of those where the PHTM two-mile T1 probably makes fares look cheaper than they actually are in the round, because the T2 uplift (and T1 fares for 5+ seaters) looks a good bit higher than the norm


Taxi fares in Kenilworth could be going up

https://kenilworth.nub.news/news/local- ... -up-307027

Taxi fares across Kenilworth, Warwick and Leamington Spa could be increased, with a decision expected by councillors next week.

Warwick District Council's (WDC) cabinet will decide whether to press forward with fare increases for hackney carriages on Wednesday (9 September).

If approved, the move could see a 10 per cent hike in initial fares, as prices look set to move for the first time in two years.

The prices set by the council are the upper limit of what the 127 hackney carriage vehicles in the district are allowed to charge. Changes do not impact private hire vehicles.

The proposed price hike comes after an informal consultation with local drivers.

Currently, WDC is the 132nd most expensive council in the country for taxi fares (of 337).



Increasing the initial charge of a day fare from £4.40 to £4.85 would move the council into 79th place, ahead of nearby Coventry.

If WDC's cabinet decides to press ahead with the price hike, the change will be advertised in local media, and then implemented in October if there are no objections.

"Cabinet notes if there are objections to the proposed fares there will be a further report to them to consider the objections and if they wish to maintain the fares as proposed," a council report said.

A five per cent price hike was considered by the council, but cabinet has been recommended to press ahead with the 10 per cent.

So T2 will kick off at £7.30 and then crank up at £4 per mile

(It's currently £6.65 and the same £4/mile increments.)

And it starts at 10pm, and the flag covers 0.7 miles. So despite its size, the T2 flagfall doesn't start particularly late, and doesn't cover a particularly long distance.

And that's also the daytime rate for 5+ seaters.

And the T2 rate for 5+ seaters will be £9.75 and £5 per running mile

And this is the current card, for what it's worth.

So not the 'busiest' card around, and there's certainly nothing in the way of extras or whatever.

https://www.warwickdc.gov.uk/download/d ... e_card.pdf

With those kind of flagfalls and rates, I'd guess the answer to the question in the headline below is 'yes'

And this is quite an astute piece in that regard, pointing out the fundamental contradiction in what the two sides of the debate are saying.

And also pointing out that that dimension wasn't even mentioned at the relevant meeting.

Either councillors are completely clueless. And if they're anything like local councillors here then they'll be quite happy to make taxis less affordable and thus drive customers towards more, er, sustainable transport.

Or, at least locally, there's no Uber alternative, but lots of cheap and/or free buses

Like our shiny new prime minister Andy Bus-fares (as I call him), there's a massive conflict of interest going on


Taxi fare increase agreed in the Warwick district - will it push custom towards Uber?

https://www.warwickshireworld.com/news/ ... er-9010058

Maximum taxi fares in the Warwick district are set to go up from October with some drivers fearing it could leave them more vulnerable to the popularity of Uber.

Warwick District Council is to add 10 per cent to the initial charges that Hackney carriages – taxis that can be hailed without notice as opposed to private hire vehicles which must be booked – can ask for at the start of journeys.

It covers the first 700 yards and will go up from £4.40 to £4.85 in daytime hours, from £6.65 to £7.30 between 10pm and 6pm with that evening rate increasing from £8.85 to £9.75 for taxis carrying five or more passengers.

The rates for each 100 yards travelled after that and the waiting times remain unchanged from the rates set in 2024.

The district's taxi drivers were consulted with more than half responding and nearly three quarters of those respondents advocating an increase, primarily due to soaring fuel costs.

The council’s report says that inflation has gone up six per cent since the last fare increase, although that was particularly controversial as it went up by 30 per cent having not been addressed for 10 years.

The effect of that and private hire vehicles like Ubers not being subjected to the same stringent rules as Hackney carriages was cited by taxi drivers worried about further loss of trade.

“There’s already less work available,” read one driver response published by the council.

“Higher fares will likely push even more customers towards Uber and similar services, making the situation worse for local drivers.

“If the council genuinely wants to support the taxi trade, they should be focusing on creating a level playing field such as reviewing how app-based services operate in our area rather than increasing fares that could drive passengers away.”

Another read: “The most important thing is no matter how much we change the fare, we keep losing our potential customers to Uber.

“There are nights where we make nothing, waiting at the taxi ranks for 10-12 hours. All our taxi ranks are busy with Uber drivers. The council should focus on how to get our taxi business back.”

Another estimated a 70 per cent loss of trade to Uber, while one said that “customers are already not happy with the current rates” with “hardly anyone” heading out of town in taxis any more.

However, drivers also referenced “significantly” increased operating costs.

“Without a meaningful fare increase it is becoming difficult to maintain a sustainable income,” one wrote.

“Additionally, fuel costs continue rising every day. The diesel prices have increased by around 40 per cent since January 2026.”

Observations around Uber were not picked up in the discussion at Wednesday's cabinet meeting but the matter of costs was.

Leader of the opposition Councillor Alan Boad (Lib Dem, Leamington Lillington) said: “I filled my car up with diesel today and paid £100, which came as a bit of a shock.

“We need to do whatever we can to help support our taxi drivers. I notice it is going up 10 per cent and wonder whether that is enough.”

Portfolio holder for safer, healthier and active communities Councillor Jim Sinnott (Lab, Warwick Saltisford) replied: “It is a really relevant point. We have to show support, they provide an important service and we need to back them.

“We did talk about five per cent and they can pitch it lower if they want to. I think it is a healthy (increase) and it has been done through consultation so I am happy to recommend (10 per cent).”

The new rates were voted through by the cabinet – the panel of Green Party and Labour councillors in charge of major service areas – and will kick in at some point in October provided no objections are filed with the council. If they are, the cabinet will have to consider them and revisit the decision.

No, me neither

But that also demonstrates the delusion - the council can do very little about 'getting our taxi business back'. Except to hike up fares again and help Uber expand even more

It's not uncommon for Uber to raise rates in an area where the taxi tariff recently increased.

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IDFIMH