Call for crackdown on illegally parked taxis at St Albans City train station

Train bosses are being urged to tackle the scourge of taxis ignoring restrictions and loitering in the Ridgemont Road car park at St Albans City train station.

Despite the prominent APCOA ‘No Taxis’ signage, local taxi operators are obstructing the car park at the Platform 4 entrance to the station, causing serious congestion for both pedestrians and other car-park drivers, particularly during the evening hours.

Local residents have called for action from rail operators Thameslink, APCOA and St Albans district council.

One said: “Please send a licensing enforcement officer on-site to investigate and enforce appropriate penalties; 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.”

After being contacted about the issue by the St Albans Times, a Thameslink spokesperson said: “Thameslink is responsible for the car park at St Albans City station. APCOA work under instruction from us to enforce and manage the parking restrictions.

“We understand and are aware of the concerns raised about taxis using the Ridgmont Road car park at the station and have taken action to make our car parking and taxi facilities work for everyone who uses it – both passengers and drivers.

“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.

“Private hire vehicles can wait in the 20-minute pick-up zone if they have a confirmed journey due to arrive at the station in that time.

“We really want to make sure people can both travel to and work from our stations easily, safely and fairly, and we welcome any further feedback.”

And APCOA added: “APCOA work under instruction from Thameslink to enforce parking restrictions. Any taxis found illegally ranking within the car park or occupying premier parking bays are issued with a parking charge.”

Local district councillor Sean Hughes is also monitoring the situation.

Although SADC has no jurisdiction regarding this issue as it is private land owned and controlled by Network Raik and Govia Thameslink, they have sent informal reminders to drivers in relation to blocking the car park.