London Black Cab Fares to Increase – What Passengers Should Know

London’s black cab fares are set to rise by 5.05% next month, a move that has sparked discussions among drivers and passengers. Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that the minimum fare will increase from £3.80 to £4.20 on April 26, with tariffs also rising across various categories. This fare adjustment comes at a time when the London black cab industry faces rising costs and restrictions, adding to the financial pressures already affecting drivers.

Breakdown of the Fare Increase

The updated pricing structure will see tariff one charge approximately £3.97 per mile, while tariffs two and four will cost £4.80 per mile. Tariff three will be the highest, at around £5.08 per mile. Additionally, passengers will now be charged £4.20 for the first 85.2 metres of their journey, with further costs applied after 9,627.6 metres at every 70.4-metre interval.

Driver Reactions and Industry Impact

Many taxi drivers support the increase, arguing that rising operational costs justify the change. The United Cabbies Group commented on X:

"So there can be no confusion. The UCG hold the view, that we are fully entitled to the Tariff increase, after all we’ve laid that money out. Our Tariff is a year in arrears."

Another driver emphasized the necessity of the price hike:

"Any driver not wanting the increase needs to give their head a wobble. We deserve every penny!!"

Some industry observers question whether the higher fares will affect passenger demand, particularly with ride-hailing services like Uber offering lower per-mile rates. However, one driver expressed confidence in the change:

"I very much welcome the increase and don’t think it’ll make a jot of difference to who chooses a black cab or not. Prices increase across all businesses, ours should be no difference."

With operational expenses rising across the transport industry, black cab drivers see this fare adjustment as essential to maintaining their livelihood.