London Black Taxis.net » taxi speak

Ascott Cab Co. appointed as LTI service dealer

blog — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:28:59 +0000

London’s black cab drivers can now benefit from an additional service and repair facility thanks to the opening of a new LTI Vehicles Service Dealer.

Ascott Cab Co., based in London SE8, provides the capital’s licensed black taxis cab trade with routine servicing, unscheduled repairs and now LTI warranty work for the world famous purpose-built London Taxi. Trained staff and a fully equipped workshop and bodyshop ensure downtime is kept to a minimum and repair work is carried out to the highest possible standards. On site, the Ascott Cab Co. also acts as insurance brokers.

“Licensed London black taxis cab taxi drivers in London can be confident that we work hard to offer them excellent service and support,” said a spokesman for Ascott Cab Co. “We realise that time off the road means loss of earnings, so our priority has always been to get drivers back.

“Should any driver experience a problem, we look forward to welcoming and providing them with the added peace of mind that their taxi will soon be looking and feeling like new.”

Peter Rigden, General Manager of M&O London, the UK’s number one LTI Vehicles dealer, said: “In continuing the support of the rapidly growing TX4 population in London, I am delighted to welcome Ascott Cab Co to the family of LTI Mann & Overton Service Dealers.

“Ascotts have an extremely high reputation for customer service in the London trade and we are keen to further develop and strengthen our business relationship with them.”

To find out more about the Ascott Cab Co. visit ascottcab.com.

Fare Increase

blog — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:14:27 +0000

London’s black-taxi fares will increase 3.4% starting April 4th to help London licensed black taxi drivers meet higher costs.
The average fare for a taxi trip on a weekday during working hours will rise 33 pence to £10.16.
The change was prompted by a 3.7% increase in operating costs this year, with diesel fuel 4.1% more expensive.
London black taxi drivers will also be able to charge an additional 40 pence per trip if diesel prices rise above 147.1 pence a litre between April 4th and Jan 1st, the authority said.
As of Jan. 30th, the average diesel cost was 100.7 pence a litre, TfL said.

KPM Taxis Plc

blog — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:12:04 +0000

I just received an urgent text from KPM Taxis (UK) Plc telling me that they are still trading normally. Apparently,there is a malicious rumour going around that they have ceased trading. Lets hope that all is OK with KPM, as the taxi trade needs them to compete with Mann and Overton. Otherwise buying and selling taxis will be though only a single outlet. Ominous for the health of the trade. Lets hope we receive better news in the future?

New TX4′s

blog — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:49:58 +0000

The problem with TX4′s catching fire has been hopefully diagnosed and rectified (don’t hold your breath).
Yesterday I noticed an unbelievable add by Mann and Overton offering £5000.00 discount on all new TX4′s.
Business must really be bad for M & O to offer such huge discounts.
It makes you wonder why they were selling the TX4′s for £5k too much in the first place!

TX4′s

blog — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:14:08 +0000

Its absolutely unbelievable that 8 of LTI’s fleet of TX4′s have caught fire.
Actually, from a well informed source I understand the number to be nearer 22 cabs catching fire.
This is outrageous.
Paying £34K for a vehicle that could catch fire doesn’t exactly breed confidence in taxi drivers or the general public.
I predict that LTI will behave in their usual arrogent manner and blame someone else for the problem.
Again I hear they are already blaming China for the fault.
As far I am aware production of the TX4 is carried out at their Coventry factory so how and why China should be involved is a mystery?
Bottom line is its a danger both to the drivers and passengers and must be diagnosed and corrected immediately.
Plus, LTI should and must compensate drivers who have had their cabs written off due to the spontaneous fires.
I understand that the LCDC drivers club is looking into suing LTI for the drivers loss of earnings.
Is it any wonder that drivers want to buy the new “scab” Merc van conversion to poke two fingers up to LTI!

Strange Sightings

blog — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:48:21 +0000

The new breed of Mercedes Benz taxis are now on the road.
Thankfully, there only a handfull visible.
It is almost shocking to encounter one of these newly passed PCO vehicles.
My first instinct is to run them off the road thinking they are scabs.
Then reality kicks in and I realise that they are the newly passed Mercs. They are a blight on our trade and it is a wonder that the owners do not realise this too and feel ashamed.
I know they do not look like nails but they are certainly death nails to the taxi trade.
How can the average punter now know the difference between a licensed London taxi and a mini cab if everyone is driving the same vehicle? Its a travesty to allow these scab vehicles to be used as black taxis.
I hope that only a few vehicles are sold and they die off naturally.
We really can’t allow these vehicles to destroy our business just to spite Mann and Overton.
I’m all for improving our taxis and reducing costs but this can only be done by competition and consumer demand.
Its vital for our taxis to look like conventional London taxis and stand out from the opposition!
Imposing mercs on us will only have a negative affect on our trade and encourage the opposition.

Bicycles

blog — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:22:58 +0000

I worked on Tuesday and I must say that I was amazed by the sheer number of people now riding bicycles.
I just couldn’t believe it.
It ran into hundreds.
I guess its a great way to beat the congestion charge and the high price of fuel. Plus, it keeps you pretty fit too!
It’s not so good for licensed London taxis though as its difficult to keep track of where all the various bikes are and no one wants to hit one.
It would be good if bicycle riders obeyed the highway code as most now don’t and drive the wrong way up one way streets and don’t stop for red lights etc.
Lets try and keep accidents down to the minimum and have co-operation from all forms of transport.
Unfortunately, this is wishful thinking!

State of Play

blog — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:06:41 +0000

Although I’m only working 2-3 days a week I can’t help noticing how busy it is out on the streets.
With all the “doom and gloom” being publicised each and every day it comes as quite a relief that the punters are still willing to hire our black cabs and still offer up tips.
Long may it continue.
I worked last night “Tuesday” and I must say that it was buzzing out there. This is really good news for the licensed taxi trade as I had feared the trade would be feeling the pitch by now with everyone tightening their belts.
The bad news is that the “PCO” have passed a converted Mercerces Benz van as a London Taxi. I can fully understand drivers wanting to give “Mann and Overton” and “KPM” a black eye for past rip offs which incidentally, are still going on but surely this is short sighted revenge.
If licensed taxi drivers do eventully buy these converted Mercedes Benz vans it will be another death nail in the taxi trade’s coffin. Its hard enough at the moment for punters to know the difference between black cabs and mini cabs and that’s with us driving our trade mark purpose built vehicles.
If everone drives the same vehicles no one will know the difference between us and the mini cabs, and the taxi trade will have finally died.
So lets be patient a little longer till the reported electric taxis are are sale, some time towards the end of this year. Then at last we can all buy from “Mann and Overton’s” competitor and force real changes to the value for money now being offered by “M & O”.

Santa Claus

blog — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 03:12:10 +0000

Santa Claus is alive and well and living in Lapland. I should know I picked him up today. A nicer person it would be difficult to find. He and his wife were in London for the Easter weekend to buy presents for their grandchildren.
So good to know Santa has a regular family like the rest of us.
To find out more go to Canterbury Travel.
I’ve already told Santa what I would like for christmas. He told me if I gave him a big tip he would see what he could do!

Weekend 26/27th January 08

blog — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:09:28 +0000

Well it’s here! The dreaded “kipper” is upon us.
Saturday saw plenty of punters around earlier, and business seemed buoyant up till approx 9pm.
After dinner the streets were deserted and it seemed like the kipper” had struck.
Sunday confirmed my feelings.
It was probably my worst Sunday of all time, with the streets emptied of all living beings or movement. Kind of eerie, like driving around a ghost town.
We can only keep on being positive, and carry on as usual trying to earn a living.
Being on the front line of the economy gives us a unique insight into the minds of the punters.
They are running scared with all this talk of economic turn down. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy. The more said about doom and gloom in the press the more the punters are holding onto to their hard earned cash.
I don’t blame them.
We have to do the same till April and May, and hopefully a respite.
Batten down the hatches!