TfL to “closely monitor” concerns over shortage of rental black cabs says London Mayor Sadiq Khan

Transport for London (TfL) will “closely monitor” concerns over a shortage of rental black cabs available to drivers says London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The concerns come as a growing number of drivers within the taxi industry complain about a falling number of available taxis.

Fleet-owned diesel taxis are being decommissioned as part of the Mayor’s restructured delicensing scheme, but not replaced by cleaner zero emission vehicles like the LEVC TXE or the forthcoming Nissan Dynamo taxis.

The London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, said: “Transport for London regularly engages with the taxi trade. While we are not aware of a shortage of fleet-owned rental taxis, I have asked TfL to closely monitor the situation and discuss with the taxi trade if necessary. “The taxi delicensing scheme, along with other measures, is playing an important part in making London’s taxi fleet cleaner, helping to achieve at least a 65 per cent reduction in harmful taxi NOx emissions by 2025.” When asked whether TfL had taken into consideration how the new Taxi Delicensing scheme will affect the rental market for taxi drivers, the Mayor added:

“Transport for London’s enhanced taxi delicencing scheme, launched in January 2019, was designed to speed up the removal of the most polluting taxi vehicles to improve London’s air quality. There are alternatives to decommissioning an older vehicle, such as LPG retrofit or purchasing a new zero emissions capable taxi. “The delicensing fund was increased in February 2019 based on feedback from the trade, including fleet owners in the rental market, many of whom also want to transition to more ZEC vehicles. “Fleet owners are, however, limited in the number of vehicles they can decommission per company due to state aid limitations.”

Image: Greater London Authority