The London (British Rail) Taxi Sharing Scheme Order 1987

Made: 8th May 1987

Laid before Parliament: 12th May 1987

Coming into force: 1st July 1987

The Secretary of State for Transport, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 10(4), (5), (6) and (10) of the Transport Act 1985[^f00001], and of all other enabling powers, hereby makes the following Order:

1

This Order may be cited as the London (British Rail) Taxi Sharing Scheme Order 1987 and shall come into force on 1st July 1987.

2

The Secretary of State hereby makes the London (British Rail) Taxi Sharing Scheme as set out in the Annex to this Order.

ANNEX — The London (British Rail) Taxi Sharing Scheme 1987

Interpretation

1

In this Scheme, unless the context otherwise requires:—

• “authorised destination” means any destination indicated in the Schedule to this Scheme of a journey which may be made under the Scheme from a particular authorised place;

• “authorised place” means a place designated in the Schedule to this Scheme from which taxis may be hired under the terms of the Scheme;

• “exclusive service” means a service other than at separate fares;

• “shared service” means a service at separate fares;

• “taxi” means a vehicle licensed under section 6 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869[^f00002].

Application

2

• (1) The requirements of this Scheme shall apply to taxis standing for hire or hired at separate fares under the terms of this Scheme for a journey from an authorised place to an authorised destination.

• (2) Any taxi may at the option of the holder of the licence for that vehicle be used for the carriage of passengers at separate fares under the terms of this Scheme.

Availability

3

A taxi shall be available for hire under this Scheme when it is standing at an authorised place and displaying a notice containing the words specified in paragraph 4 of this Scheme.

Signs on vehicles

4

There shall be displayed on any taxi standing for hire under the terms of this Scheme (in addition to any other sign, mark or notice which is required to be displayed on the taxi) a notice containing the words “Shared Taxi”.

Arrangements for a shared service

5

If a person seeks to hire for a shared service a taxi available for hire under this Scheme and the driver is unable to find at least one other person to share the hiring within a reasonable time, then no fare shall be payable and the driver shall be free to seek an alternative hiring provided that the driver and the first mentioned person may continue to wait for another person to offer to share the taxi for so long as they both agree to do so.

Fares and meters

6

• (1) The maximum fare payable by each passenger for a journey shall be the appropriate amount indicated in the Schedule to this Scheme.

• (2) No fare shall be charged for any child under the age of two years.

• (3) Each child over the age of two years but under the age of ten years shall be charged at half fare.

• (4) A charge shall be made for each article of luggage equal to the charge that would be made if the taxi were hired by a single passenger for an exclusive service[^f00003], and this charge shall be payable by the passenger whose luggage it is.

• (5) Before the commencement of any journey from an authorised place by a taxi for the purpose of a shared service, any person may (notwithstanding any earlier agreement) decide not to be carried as a passenger and no fare or other charge shall be payable by that person.

• (6) The taxi meter shall not be operated and the roof sign shall not be illuminated during the hiring.

Obligatory hirings

7

The driver of a taxi available, for hire under this Scheme shall not, without reasonable excuse, refuse a hiring to two or more persons seeking a shared service to any single authorised destination; but he may wait for a reasonable period for further passengers to share the hiring.

Luggage

8

The driver shall not refuse to carry in his taxi the luggage of a passenger if the luggage can be accommodated safely within the luggage compartment of the taxi with the luggage of other passengers already accepted by him.

Route

9

The route taken by the taxi and the order in which passengers are set down shall be determined by the driver, but he shall not unreasonably prolong the journey of any passenger.

Touting

10

• (1) The driver may tout for passengers to share the taxi with a passenger who has already requested a service at separate fares only from the part of an authorised place where his taxi is standing for hire or from any place within 6 metres of his taxi.

• (2) The driver may tout by word of mouth only and when touting shall conduct himself in an orderly manner.

SCHEDULE — RANKS AND FARES

Signed

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State

David Mitchell — Minister of State, — Department of Transport — 8th May 1987

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order contains in its Annex the London (British Rail) Taxi Sharing Scheme.

The Scheme applies to taxis standing for hire or hired at the authorised places designated in the Schedule—the forecourts of Waterloo and Paddington stations—for journeys to the other stations indicated in the Schedule (paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Annex).

Taxis available for hire under the Scheme are to display a sign containing the words “Shared Taxi” (paragraphs 3 and 4). The fares payable are specified in paragraph 6 and the Schedule.

Paragraphs 5 and 7 to 10 contain supplementary provisions relating to the arrangements for shared services, obligatory hirings, luggage, the route to be followed and touting.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1985 c. 67.

[^f00002]: 1869 c. 115.

[^f00003]: See paragraph 41 of the London Cab Order 1934 (S.R. & O. 1934/1346); the relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1980/588 and 1984/707.