
Train bosses are facing mounting pressure to stop taxi drivers from ignoring restrictions in the Ridgemont Road car park at St Albans City train station.
Despite clear signage prohibiting taxis, local cabbies continue to block the area near the Platform 4 entrance, creating severe congestion for pedestrians and other motorists, especially during evening hours.
Frustrated residents are calling on rail operator Thameslink, parking management firm APCOA, and St Albans District Council to step in with firm enforcement.
One local resident urged authorities to "send a licensing enforcement officer on-site to investigate and enforce appropriate penalties," adding: "I doubt that informal warnings would be effective; I would advocate revocation of licences if taxi operators persist and do not use the official taxi rank outside the main station entrance on Platform 1."
Responding to the concerns, a Thameslink spokesperson stated that they are aware of the issue and have introduced measures to manage the car park.
"This has included the use of ad-hoc taxi marshalling, to enforce restrictions at the station, and installing ANPR cameras at the main taxi rank," the spokesperson explained, noting that private hire vehicles are permitted in the 20-minute pick-up zone only if they have a confirmed booking arriving within that window.
They emphasised their goal to ensure passengers and drivers can use the station "easily, safely and fairly."
Parking enforcement company APCOA confirmed that it acts under Thameslink's direction, adding that "any taxis found illegally ranking within the car park or occupying premier parking bays are issued with a parking charge."
Although St Albans District Council lacks jurisdiction over the private land - which is owned and controlled by Network Rail and Govia Thameslink - local councillor Sean Hughes is monitoring the situation, and the council has sent informal reminders to drivers urging them not to block the car park.

The drivers accepted unbooked fares from undercover licensing officers - violating strict regulations that stipulate only hackneys licensed within Trafford can be hailed directly in the borough.

The unannounced inspections were carried out to ensure licensed cabs continue to meet strict safety and reliability standards for local passengers.

Ongoing works on major routes - including Tenter Street, Furnival Road, Clarkehouse Road, and Granville Road - are causing extensive delays, particularly during rush hour traffic.

Starting fares across all tariffs will increase by 30p - with tariff one rising from £2.60 to £2.90 - representing an average fare increase of around 4.28%, whilst tariff two will see a 10% rise.

Scot McCluskey, 37, pleaded guilty at Hamilton Sheriff Court to assaulting the cabbie to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

Liberty Mitchell, who had passed her driving test just three weeks prior to the December 2022 crash, was originally sentenced to six years and eight months at Gloucester Crown Court.

An investigation has revealed a dramatic rise in complaints against cabbies across Oxfordshire, with local councils logging 714 reports over 2025/26 - a significant leap from 601 the previous year

Following separate hearings on July 7, 2026, councillors concluded that each case raised serious doubts about whether the individuals remained "fit and proper" to hold or be granted a licence

The committee heard that the 10 per cent boost was considered a "reasonable" adjustment to help drivers cope with rising operational expenses since maximum fares were last raised in October 2022.

The victim, a woman in her 80s, had already lost over £3,000 to a scammer impersonating her bank who later booked a cab to collect her card under the guise of destroying it.

Officers from Cheshire Police teamed up with Cheshire West and Chester Council to pull over 12 taxis and private hire vehicles for random checks.

Following representations from licensing officers, the driver, and his representative, the council concluded that he was "not a fit and proper person to hold a private hire driver licence."

James Thomas, 30, from Swansea, had been attending a Christmas party at the NEC in Birmingham on December 21 with his partner while a babysitter looked after their ten-month-old child.

For nearly 20 years, an armada of hackney carriages has operated under the informal banner of "Poppy Cabs," providing free transport for war veterans to the annual national Remembrance Day service.

Under current rules, the DfT authorises driverless vehicles on public roads, but TfL holds licensing power over paid passenger services and must grant consent before commercial operations can begin.

Cabbies report that youths on bikes and electric scooters flee the scene quickly, forcing drivers to avoid hotspots such as Parson Cross, Shiregreen, Southey Green, and Woodthorpe during peak hours.

The firm is launching its latest campaign aiming to install Bleed Control Kits across the city to help victims of knife crime. 


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