Taxi drivers to boycott station

The taxi association said drivers unanimously agreed to the boycott

Taxi drivers in Birmingham confirm they will boycott a train station when a new barrier system starts which will charge them each time they pick up passengers.

More than 1,000 members of Birmingham and Solihull Taxi Drivers Association said they will refuse to pick up fares at New Street because of a 20p charge.

Currently, only the 1,200 association members can work at the station, excluding 300 non-members.

Network Rail, which runs the station, said the new system was fairer.

Swipe cards

The association previously had an agreement with the rail operator where it paid a lump sum to enable drivers to work at the station.

Talks about adopting a new system and putting up barriers have been on-going since last summer.

A spokesman for Network Rail told BBC News that drivers will need a swipe card to use the taxi rank, which they can apply for free of charge, and they can add credit to it at the station.

All revenue from the surcharge will be re-invested in improved lighting, security and CCTV cameras at the station.

About 200 drivers have already applied for a card, the spokesman added.

The barriers are expected to be in place in the next two weeks.