1

Suburban Taxi Drivers’ Forum

Sector 8 - Ealing and Hillingdon

Sector 9 - Brent, Barnet and Harrow

2

Introductions

3

Knowledge Update

4

Supporting the Knowledge of London

The Mayor has committed to raising the profile of The Knowledge of London in

his 2016 Taxi and Private Hire Action plan.

Our Knowledge team has attended a number of events, including a range of

careers fairs and school career events, in order to promote the Knowledge as a

career option, including a TfL careers army event for candidates who have left or

are in the process of leaving the armed forces, where the Knowledge received a

lot of positive attention.

We have also produced a prospectus entitled How to Become a London Taxi

Driver. The prospectus includes specific case studies of a variety of Knowledge

students from different backgrounds who have successfully gone through the

Knowledge of London process. It also explains the benefits of becoming a

London taxi driver and provides information on why our taxi drivers are

considered the best in the world.

5

Supporting the Knowledge of London

TfL’s Knowledge team will be handing out the prospectus at future careers events, and

we encourage anyone else who has an interest in promoting the taxi trade to do the

same.

It is important that everyone plays their part in helping to promote the benefits of being

a London taxi driver to those looking for a new career. We are keen to work with the

trade to help promote any ongoing or future initiatives.

This prospectus has been made available to view and download on our website:

http://content.tfl.gov.uk/knowledgeoflondonprospectus.pdf

6

Licensed Drivers With Sectors Passed

The table below confirms the number of licensed taxi drivers broken down by badge type

(all London and suburban):

• Information correct as of May 2019

• '2 and 3 sectors' is a combination of more that 1 sector

Sectors Passed Mar-19 Apr-19 May-19

All London 20,334 20,323 20,280

Sector 1 - Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest 52 52 54

Sector 1 + Hackney extension 106 104 103

Sector 2: Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge 688 684 685

Sector 3: Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham 263 261 261

Sector 4: Bromley 94 94 95

Sector 5: Croydon 206 204 202

Sector 6: Merton and Sutton 184 181 183

Sector 6 + Clapham extension 279 277 277

Sector 7: Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames and Richmond Upon Thames 438 433 427

Sector 8: Ealing and Hillingdon 135 133 134

Sector 9: Barnet, Brent and Harrow 189 190 191

2 sectors 149 145 144

3 sectors 10 10 10

2 or more sectors + Hackney extension 18 18 18

2 or more sectors + Clapham extension 17 17 17

Total 23,162 23,126 23,081

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Number of Students Currently Studying each Sector

• Information correct as of May 2019

Sectors Pre Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Total

All London 2,216 1,166 328 206 3,916

Sector 1: Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest 22 8 2 2 34

Sector 2: Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge 49 10 5 1 65

Sector 3: Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham 15 14 5 6 40

Sector 4: Bromley 3 1 0 0 4

Sector 5: Croydon 31 7 0 3 41

Sector 6: Merton and Sutton 144 16 6 12 178

Sector 7: Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames and Richmond Upon Thames 45 8 1 5 59

Sector 8: Ealing and Hillingdon 6 6 1 1 14

Sector 9: Barnet, Brent and Harrow 14 5 0 0 19

Total 2,545 1,241 348 236 4,370

8 Suburban Knowledge Candidate Statistics

As of May 2019, there were 454 Knowledge candidates studying suburban

sectors. Of these, 14 are studying sector 8 and 19 are studying sector 9, together

these two sectors make up 7 per cent of all suburban Knowledge candidates.

8%

14%

9%

1%

9%

39%

13%

3% 4% Sector 1: Enfield, Haringey and Waltham

Forest, 7%

Sector 2: Barking and Dagenham, Havering,Newham and Redbridge, 14%

Sector 3: Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham,9%

Sector 4: Bromley, 1%

Sector 5: Croydon, 9%

Sector 6: Merton and Sutton, 39%

Sector 7: Hounslow, Kingston upon Thamesand Richmond Upon Thames, 13%

Sector 8: Ealing and Hillingdon, 3%

Sector 9: Barnet, Brent and Harrow, 4%

9

Enforcement and Compliance Update

10

Compliance checks

Taxi Driver Checks 9,478

% Compliant 87%

Taxi Vehicle Checks 9,770

% Compliant 75%

Top 5 Taxi Vehicle Non-Compliant Reasons

Lamps

Body work

Interior signage/identifiers in approved position

Tyres

Documentation and MOT

We have conducted the following checks between 1 June 2018 and 30 July 2019

11

Taxi Driver and Vehicle Non-Compliance by Borough

Data captured in

February and March 2019

12

Vehicle Unfit Examples

Data captured between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019

MHC Bumper Split & Cracked MHC Front Bumper Taped

13

Vehicle Unfit Examples

Data captured between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019

Mercedes Benz Vito

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Vehicle Unfit Examples

Data captured between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019

Mercedes Benz Vito

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Vehicle Unfit Examples

Data captured between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019

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Taxi and Private Hire Intelligence Pan London

Data captured between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019

Intelligence is a

combination of:

- Staff observations

- Online reporting

- Twitter

- Customer

complaints

- Trade information

- Third party

reporting

(local authorities,

etc.)

- DIRs (Bus Driver

Incident Reports

Enfield

2Harrow Barnet Haringey Waltham F

4 13 13 4Hillingdon Ealing Brent Camden Islington Hackney Redbridge Havering

18 9 7 64 17 14 1 12Hounslow Hammer Kensington Westmin City Tower H Newham Barking

3 27 53 309 62 15 16 0Richmond Wandworth Lambeth Southwark Lewisham Greenwich Bexley

3 8 37 54 6 24 1Kingston Merton Croydon Bromley

6 5 42 3Sutton

4

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Taxi and Private Hire Intelligence - Sector 8

Hotspots in Ealing and Hillingdon

Ealing Broadway & Haven Green

• Taxis plying for hire without

identifiers

• PHV waiting for fare, aggressive

when approached and asked to

move

• PHVs using area due to road

markings not clearly outlining taxi

rank

Data captured between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019

© Crown copyright and

database rights 2017

Ordnance Survey

100035971.

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Taxi and Private Hire Intelligence - Sector 9

Hotspots in Brent and Harrow

Harrow on Hill Station

• Over-ranking taxis on rank 5530

• Possible touting outside Junction

pub.

Wembley Station, Ecclestone Place

• PHVs parked on taxi ranks

• PHVs touting near station

Data captured between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019

© Crown copyright and database rights 2017

Ordnance Survey 100035971.

19

Policy Update

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Taxi Fares and Tariffs – 2018 Update

Following a public consultation and a review of fares and

tariffs, the following changes were approved and came into

effect on 6 October 2018:

• The minimum fare was increased from £2.60 to £3.00

• Tariff 1 was increased by 0.6 per cent

• Tariff 2 was increased by 0.6 per cent

• Fuel surcharge arrangement was extended

• Freeze to Tariff 3 and Tariff 4

• Fixed fares for shared taxis from Euston Station

increased by 50 pence

• Soiling charge increased from £40.00 to £60.00

• All card payment devices approved for use in taxis

must now accept American Express.

The consultation report is available on our website:

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/taxis/fares-2018

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Taxi Fares and Tariffs – 2018 Activity

Updated fare conversion

table including fares for six

passengers sharing

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Taxi Fares and Tariffs – 2019 Proposals

• When reviewing taxi fares and tariffs we try to strike an appropriate balance between

drivers being fairly remunerated and taxi users getting fair, reasonable and affordable

fares. We consider the impact of potential changes on both taxi users and drivers and if

fare increases could result in fewer people using taxis and reduced incomes for taxi

drivers

• For 2019 we will be consulting on the following proposals:

Area Days and times applicable Proposal

Minimum taxi

fare At all times

Increase by 20 pence (6.7 per cent) taking

this from £3.00 to £3.20

Tariff 1 Monday to Friday, 05:00-20:00 Increase by 1.9 per cent

Tariff 2 Monday to Friday, 20:00-22:00 and

Saturday and Sunday, 05:00-22:00 Increase by 1.9 per cent

Tariff 3 Every night 22:00-05:00 and public holidays Freeze

Tariff 4 For journeys over six miles Freeze tariff rates

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Taxi Fares and Tariffs – 2019 Proposals

We are also proposing to:

• Extend the arrangements in place to cover significant increases or decreases in the

price of diesel

• Increase the fixed fares for shared taxis from Euston Station to Lord’s Cricket

Ground by 50 pence when Tariffs 1 and 2 apply

• Make a small change to when the tariff rate for journeys over six miles (Tariff 4)

starts

We’re also interested in your views on:

• The Cost Index and if changes should be made to this

• Taxi fares late at night and Tariff 3

How to respond and let us know what you think:

• Online at: https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/

• Email us at: consultations@tfl.gov.uk

• Write to us at: FREEPOST TFL CONSULTATIONS

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Taxicard

Taxicard is available to those with mobility impairments who have

trouble using public transport. Taxicard provides subsidised taxi travel

to its users.

A consultation of Taxicard users, took place in 2017 and found

members were concerned about the uncertainty of the cost of

journeys, as the same journey could vary significantly in price.

As a result a capped fare scheme was introduced with a fixed

maximum fare per mile, based on distance only and not the time spent

in the taxi, providing cost certainty.

How this works?

• When making a booking, a member is quoted a maximum fare, based on distance

• If the fare on the meter is lower, the contribution is based on the meter

• If the fare on the meter is higher, the contribution is based on the maximum fare

quoted

We are currently working with City Fleet in order to increase Taxicard coverage.

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Zero emission capable taxis

The number of ZEC licensed taxis is

1,843 as of 25 June 2019.

The new Nissan Dynamo is set to be

released in summer 2019.

Since 1 January 2018, we no longer license new diesel taxis in London and all vehicles

presented for inspection for the first time must be zero emission capable.

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LPG Converted Taxi’s

• Taxis which have been converted to run on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) after 31

October 2019 and which meet the Euro 6 standard for emissions will retain the

15 year age limit.

• A limited number of LPG conversion grants will be made available to drivers of

eligible Euro 5 taxis to support the shift of those vehicles with the worst NOx

emissions to cleaner vehicles.

• In addition, taxis which were granted a five year extension to their age limit under

the previous LPG conversion age limit exemption would not be affected.

• If you wish to express interest in applying for an LPG conversion grant, please

email TaxiDelicensing@tfl.gov.uk. This will enable us to contact you when the

application process opens later this year.

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Wider policy work

Last year we played an active part of the Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned

Taxi and Private Hire Task and Finish Group.

This resulted in a report published in September 2018 which contained a number of

recommendations to government. These include calls a for a start/finish requirement

in order to control cross-border hiring, better enforcement powers, calls for a

statutory definition of both ‘plying for hire’ and ‘pre-booked’ services, national

licensing standards, and the powers to cap the number of private hire vehicles in

London. The full Task and Finish report is available here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/taxi-and-private-hire-vehicle-licensing-

recommendations-for-a-safer-and-more-robust-system.

Following this report the Department for Transport consulted on statutory guidance for

licensing authorities.

We support the governments aim to introduce national minimum licensing standards

as part of this guidance and continue to urge government to introduce legislation

which we believe would support the two tier system which has worked well in London

for many years.

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Taxi age limit consultation

• Taxis are an integral part of our transport network, providing quick, accessible, safe and

knowledgeable travel across London

• There is currently a maximum 15 year vehicle age limit for taxis and we are rolling out

electric vehicle charging infrastructure across London, with many charging points dedicated

to the taxi trade to help support the take-up of new vehicles.

• There is an urgent need to improve London’s air and protect Londoner’s health requires

that we go further

• From 15 February to 26 Apr 2019 we conducted a public consultation on taxi vehicle age

limits

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Taxi age limit consultation and next steps

Following the outcome of the consultation, we will be introducing changes to the taxi

vehicle age limits and exemptions from 1 November 2019. These changes are being

introduced to reduce harmful emissions from taxis and improve air quality in the capital.

More information on the consultation and what else we are doing to improve London’s air

quality is available on our website.

The table below shows when the changes will come into effect and the taxis affected.

Date Change Taxis affected

1 November 2019

Maximum taxi operating age mandated

Exemptions for alternative fuel conversions, historic

and classic/niche vehicles and hardship/personal

circumstances removed

All licensed taxis

Exemptions granted prior to 1

November 2019 will be retained

1 November 2020 Age limit reduced to 14 years Euro 2, 3, 4 and 5 diesel taxis

1 November 2021 Age limit reduced to 13 years Euro 2, 3, 4 and 5 diesel taxis

1 November 2022 Age limit reduced to 12 years Euro 2, 3, 4 and 5 diesel taxis

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Help and assistance for taxi drivers

In addition to the LPG conversion grants, to support taxi vehicle owners, in January this

year we announced that we have significantly enhanced our taxi delicensing scheme

with payments available of up to £10,000. Over 4,000 applications have been received

to date but funds are still available and we encourage vehicle owners to apply as early

as they can to avoid any disappointment.

The new scheme works on a first come, first served basis and provides payments to

drivers to delicense their Euro 3, 4 and 5 vehicles early and so contribute to the

reduction in taxi NOx emissions that we must achieve.

31

Infrastructure Update

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Elizabeth Line | Crossrail

• The Elizabeth line will stretch from Reading and Heathrow in the west

through central tunnels across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east

• The new railway - currently being built by Crossrail Ltd. - will stop at 40

accessible stations, 10 newly built and 30 newly upgraded, and is expected

to serve around 200 million people each year

• The completion of the Elizabeth line has unfortunately been delayed with

the central section now aimed at opening in 2020. We continue to work

with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure passengers wishing

to use taxi services to complete their journey are catered for.

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Bus Lane Access

We committed to increasing taxi access to bus lanes in the Mayor’s 2016 Taxi

and Private Hire Action Plan.

Since doing so, we have ensured that taxi drivers can continue to access bus

lanes, a right we previously defended in court, to support quicker and more

convenient journeys.

We have enabled access to an additional 18 bus lanes at key locations on our

road network and have asked London boroughs to seek access to bus lanes on

roads that they control.

Currently, taxis can access 95 per cent of bus lane length on our road network

and 93 per cent of all bus lane length across London, which is vital in helping

taxis move around the city.

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Rapid Charging Infrastructure

We continue to build a network of rapid charge points across London to

support the growing number of Zero Emission Capable taxis and the wider

take-up of electric vehicles.

The total number of charge points across London is now 184 which is a major

step towards our target of 300 rapid charge points by December 2020. Of the

184 rapid charge points installed, 73 are dedicated to taxi use.

The Mayor’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Taskforce brought together

representatives from business, energy, infrastructure, government and London

boroughs, and has been investigating the scale of infrastructure required

towards 2025 in London. The taskforce published a delivery plan in summer

2019 with recommendations on how to ensure we have the necessary

infrastructure.

For details of the full delivery plan, taskforce members and engagement

activity that took place, please visit our website: www.tfl.gov.uk/ev-charging-

plan.

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Taxi Ranks – Sector 8

New ranks have been requested for:

• West Drayton

• Hayes & Harlington

New ranks have gone in at:

• Acton Town station

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Taxi Ranks – Sector 9

New ranks have gone in/due to be consulted on at:

• Stanmore Orthopaedic Hospital (due to go in end July)

• Extension of Golders Green Station rank by 7 metres (plans

received, borough to consult)

• Rayners Lane Station (rank in better location)

• Stanmore station will be going in as part of new works

• Ballards Lane, Tesco (plans received, borough to consult)

• Ballards Lane, Tally-Ho corner (plans received, borough to

consult)

• Kelly’s Bar Hendon Way (will go in as part of red route plans)

• Queens Park station

• East Finchley station (rank extended by 1 space and made 24/7)

• Mill Hill East station (event rank agreed and in place at station)

• Wembley Stadium event rank (agreed and in place)

• Kilburn Station, Christchurch Avenue – to swap rank with

loading bay (plans received, borough to take to consult)

• Queens Park station – to swap rank with car club bay on High

Road (plans received, borough to consult)

• Station Terrace, Kensal Rise (1 space rank will be consulted on

when design for new scheme takes place)

• Colindale Station (taxi rank will be incorporated into designs

when new scheme is in detailed design)