Taxi drivers and disability groups have expressed delight at the decision to reverse the taxi ban at Edinburgh Waverley train station. However rail chiefs warned that there are many issues to be resolved before the station could return to normal.
Local taxi firms were disappointed that Network Rail did not involve them in recent talks or proposals. However, they are happy that they have backed down from the overall vehicle ban.
The U-turn means that, from January 2013, a reduced number of black cabs and disability-adapted minibuses will be allowed into the transport hub.
Secretary of the Edinburgh Taxi Association and M8 Mercedes vito taxi owner, Raymond Davidson, said: “This is good news for drivers and makes sure disabled passengers can get to the station without hassle.
“There are still a lot of details to be worked out though. We don’t know how they will get in with all the barriers and how many will be allowed in the rank. There could easily be gridlock”.
Taxi drivers pay a rate for accessing the station, which has recently increased to £466 every three months; however driver Bob Smith doesn’t believe that they should fund the changes. The cabbie explained: “Network rail should be paying us to pick and drop off their passengers, as this is business for them we’re bringing in”.
An Edinburgh Licensed Taxi Partnership spokesman said: “We will continue to follow matters with interest but are disappointed that the taxi trade has yet to have any meaningful input into the deliberations by Network Rail”.