Taxis step up campaign to pick up at rail station
Taxi drivers in Galway have stepped up their campaign to be allowed to access the forecourt of the city’s railway station to pick up passengers.
As well as being ticketed if they pull up anywhere near Ceannt Station, barriers erected during the year at the entrance of the station’s courtyard prevents taxis from driving in.
It remains a contentious issue between the taxi industry and Galway City Council who have failed to provide a taxi rank at Ceannt Station -- and a formal objection has been lodged to the local authority.
The nearest taxi rank is across from the Radisson Blu Hotel. Otherwise incoming passengers have to avail of taxis at Eyre Square.
But there is no taxi rank immediately beside the rail and bus station which is a source of contention within the taxi industry.
It is claimed that some taxis have received parking tickets for arriving at the station to pick up incoming passengers.
Gerry Corbett of Taxi Drivers Galway said that it was illegal to prevent taxis from picking up passengers at the station.
He said that Galway City Council were not complying with European regulations which state that there should be a taxi rank within 10 metres of the station to accommodate disabled passengers.
The nearest taxi rank from the coach station is more than 40 metres away which they say is in breach of the rules and they have now made their feelings known to Galway City Council.
It is also claimed that the revamp of Ceannt Station is breaching these regulations as there is no accommodation for a taxi rank within 10 metres of the bus and rail services.
Representatives from the taxi industry in Galway have lodged a formal objection to Galway City Council saying that the proposed extension to the coach park should not proceed without a rank being provided.
It is proposed to provide five new coach bays along with 33 apartments at Fairgreen Road. The apartments will be located on the first, second and third floors.
The proposal also includes a basement car park and an access road to the nearby Radisson Blu Hotel. But there are no plans for a taxi rank as part of the development.
This has infuriated taxi drivers who are being slapped with illegal parking tickets if they pull up outside the coach station to collect a fare. Traffic wardens are also issuing tickets if the taxi drivers drop off passengers at the coach station.
Gerry Corbett said that they strongly object to the development and have voiced their opposition to the Council.
He quoted current European law which requires that people with disabilities or reduced mobility must have access to taxis within 10 metres of the terminal building.