Posted on the 16th September 2025 in PHTM News

INDEPENDENT CAB DRIVERS' PETITION AGAINST PROPOSED BOURNEMOUTH STATION TAXI RANK LEASE

Independent taxi drivers in Bournemouth are protesting a proposal to lease the taxi rank at Bournemouth Railway Station to a single, large firm, claiming it threatens their livelihoods.

The Bournemouth Taxi Rank Association, representing around 100 hackney drivers, has launched a petition against South Western Railway in response to the reported plan.

Ahmed Mohamed, representing the association, stated that the rank is "not just a location, but hackney drivers’ livelihood."

He said that "For nearly six decades, more than 70 independent taxi drivers have relied on this rank to support their families, pay bills, and provide a vital transport service to the public."

The drivers argue that a lease to United Taxis would "jeopardise decades of dedicated work and threaten the survival of drivers who rely exclusively on this station."

The group is also raising concerns about a lack of transparency from South Western Railway.

Mohamed said: "Excluding drivers from the process raises serious concerns about transparency and fair decision-making."

A driver, who chose to remain anonymous, echoed this sentiment, stating that: "Losing access to the station puts their jobs, families, and futures at risk.”

The drivers are calling for South Western Railway to engage in direct and transparent consultation before making any final decisions.

Mohamed concluded: "This issue is not solely about business, it concerns the survival of families who have devoted their working lives to this station, as well as the interests of passengers who depend on reliable and fairly priced taxi services."


Read another story