| London taxi fares to rise from April |
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| Thursday, 07 February 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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An average passenger fare in London cabs will increase by 2.7 per cent for the next financial year, Transport for London has announced.
Transport for London (TfL) said that the fare rise will help drivers maintain their earnings and cover increased operating costs, particularly rises in diesel fuel prices. The new fares will come into effect on Saturday 5 April 2008. Fares are calculated by TfL using an agreed cost index based on national average earnings and taxi operating costs. Operating costs have gone up by 5.7 per cent this year, with a significant increase of 13.3 percent in the cost of diesel fuel. The increase in line with the cost index is 4.7 per cent, but the net increase of 2.7 per cent for passengers is the result of removing the 20p environmental surcharge on every journey, introduced in 2005. The cost index, agreed with the taxi trade, has been in use since 1981 and combines changes in operating costs with national earnings to produce a change in average fares. Emissions strategy The purpose of that charge was to help taxi owners meet the requirements of the Mayor's taxi emissions strategy. TfL said that after three full years it had served its purpose. All taxis in London should meet Euro III standards by the summer. Ed Thompson, taxi and private hire director at TfL's Public Carriage Office, said that the new fares took into account the increased costs over the year of running a black cab. "They protect taxi drivers' income while still providing value for money for passengers, who enjoy a top quality service in London," he added. The TfL Board approved the new taxi fares on Wednesday 6 February, following consultation by the Public Carriage Office with the taxi trade and others, including London TravelWatch. The board also approved increases of 50p to some fixed fares for taxi sharing schemes. These will come into effect on Saturday 5 April 2008. There will be an increase of 50p in the fixed fare for shared trips from Wimbledon or Southfields stations to the Wimbledon tennis tournament, a 50p increase in a number of fares from Paddington station and from Buckingham Palace. TfL said that these increases broadly reflected the general increase in fares since the fixed fares were last changed. Taxi fares are worked out according to one of three tariffs. These are as follows:
Taxi fares in the evening and late at night were increased in 2001 to encourage more drivers to work at these times, improving the safe travel options available to support London's late night economy. Average fares for 2007/08 and 2008/09 (including the current 20p environmental charge in 2007/08 fares):
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