TFL, ITS TIME TO SORT OUT THIS MESS: Night Drivers Rebel at VictoriaStation.

Late night Taxi drivers, have taken to ranking up at the old rank in Victoria Station as passengers are left confused over how to find a Taxi.

The side, rear and Gatwich gates at Victoria Station are shut most nights at half past midnight.

Passengers then have to vacate the station by means of the front entrance.

There is a small confusing, miss-able sign, high up a lamp post on the forecourt, telling passengers to make their way to the Taxi rank in Hudson Place. 

But passengers following this instruction, only make it to Victoria Street, were they either,  flag down passing Taxis, or are picked off by minicab touts. 

Taxis ranking in Hudson Place are left stewing.

Staff inside the station are advising passengers to turn left out of the front exit and head for Buckingham Palace Road where passing Taxis can be found.

Some passengers have taken to queuing at the old rank where, they become easy prey to touts from the minicab firm situated on the corner of Victoria Street and Buckingham Palace road.

The firm have two staff members who regularly walk round and direct groups of passengers to a line of waiting minicabs. This practice has been reported on numerous occasions to LTPH but so far, nothing has been done to stop this.

Taxi drivers are now taking action on their own initiative, by using the old rank at night.

In defiance of the no right turn sign on the junction of Terminus Place and Buckingham Palace Road, some drivers have been making their way into the station and are waiting at the old rank as Gatwich trains arrive. As the passengers start to pour out of the station, messages are put out via radio circuits and tweeter feeds.

I spoke to a driver who had a conversation with one BT PC and was told:

"As long as you don't block works vehicles by having more than three cabs on the old rank and feed down sensibly from Buck Palace Road, not blocking access to the buses, then I see no problem arising. After all, the forecourt has to be kept clear of passenger arrivals". 

Only problem seems to be compliance officers who have been overstepping their authority and stopping cabs who have already picked up, holding them up by doing badge and bill checks while passengers, some who have had long enough journeys have to wait. Taxi drivers have been threatened by these compliance teams who seem oblivious of the touting occurring on the forecourt and in Victoria Street.

This disastrous situation has been going on too long. 

TfL know the present set up doesn't work at night.

LTPH know it doesn't work.

British Transport police know, it doesn't work. 

Although there have been a number of site visits from TfL, these have been carried out in the daytime when all exit points are available.

Why haven't alternative facilities for an easy accessible night rank been set up?

Where is the Mayors experienced transport adviser from the board of TfL?

It's time representatives from TfL, the rail company, BT police and Taxi trade orgs sat down and worked out an alternative night ranking system. 

Why is the RAFT exit closed at 12:30/01:00, surely passengers could be directed to leave by this exit, where Taxis can easily rank, causing no hassle whatsoever. It's simple common sense.

WARNING 

Drivers using the old rank in Station Place should be aware that it is unlawful to disregard a no right turn sign and the attitude of the BT police could change at any time. The only traffic that are authorised to use Station Place are buses and building works traffic.