London taxi drivers not able to access bus station electric charge points says Mayor of London

Image credit: @MMogardo

Taxi drivers will not be allowed access to a centrally located bus station containing multiple charge-points due to it being “fully utilised for single-deck buses”, the Mayor of London has said.

Earlier this year a taxi association leader revealed the electric charging ‘scandal’, with many of the forty three chargers remaining unused during the peak time demand.

The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) uncovered the hub of chargers located at a bus garage on The Cut near Waterloo. The bus garage is only 150 yards from Transport for London’s (TfL) headquarters on Blackfriars Road.

On the road running parallel to the bus station, taxi drivers driving electric taxis are forced to queue for access to charge points on Southwark Street during the daytime.

London Assembly Member, Caroline Pidgeon, asked the Mayor of London: “Has there been any progress in TfL assessing whether the 43 charging points that have been installed for charging electric buses at the Waterloo bus garage on Cornwall Road could be used for taxis as well?"

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, responded by saying: “TfL has looked into this matter further and has advised that the charging points at Waterloo bus garage are currently fully utilised for single-deck buses on some of London busiest commuter routes.

“This is also a relatively small private site controlled by the operator Go Ahead Group rather than TfL, and is only accessible to its staff and therefore this proposal is not being progressed.

“I understand your office has been updated accordingly and TfL remains happy to explore other options with you.”

This week Sadiq Khan has also confirmed there will be no CCTV enforcement for electric taxi charging bays.

Transport officials are instead keen to continue using Metropolitan Police Community Support Officers and Transport for London (TfL) Operational Officers to marshal the charge points.