Station’s black cabs to be doubled

The number of black cabs able to pick up fares from Wolverhampton railway station is to almost double.

Just 64 have been allowed to stop there for more than 10 years but now the number is increasing to 113.

The move follows talks between the drivers, Virgin Trains which lease the station and taxi service management firm Fraser Eagle.

Richard Etherington, Fraser Eagle commercial manager, said today: “We hope that this will provide an even better service for the  public in Wolverhampton.

“We have managed the taxi service for Virgin for the past two years and are in favour of a policy of fair competition. We have been in negotiations with drivers in the city for several months.

“Originally there was some resistance to expanding the scheme from current permit holders but there were no formal objects after we had explained out policy of fair competition.”

Nasim Ullah, chairman of the Wolverhampton Hackney Carriage Drivers Association, whose 43 members are among those to benefit from the expansion, said: “This is good news for us but more importantly it is great news for everybody using the station.”

All the 113 drivers holding a valid hackney carriage licence will now be able to buy for a permit pick up fares at the station. The land is privately-owned and anybody plying for hire on its taxi rank without permission can be prosecuted.