Scared cabbie leaves women stranded

Rebecca Poole and Melissa Dawson at 'dangerous' New Lynn train station. Photo / Doug Sherring

Two mothers were stranded at a deserted train station late at night after a pre-booked taxi driver decided the area was unsafe.

Rebecca Poole and Melissa Dawson ordered a cab from New Lynn station to Titirangi after a rare Saturday night out in central Auckland last weekend but it didn't turn up.

"We had to wait 30 minutes at a dark, isolated, closed train station," said Poole, 32.

"The taxi rank is down a dark alley outside a barbed wire fence, unlit and hidden from the outside world. We felt very unsafe and helpless."

The friends booked a cab from Co-op Taxis to meet them off the last train at 12.20am.

After it failed to arrive, Poole rang back. She said she was told there were no cabs in the area and she didn't know when the next would be available.

"We were sitting ducks basically," said Poole. By chance, a railway security guard arrived and stayed with them.

After another call to the same despatcher, they rang another company, which turned out to be a branch of Co-op. Five minutes later a cab turned up.

Poole said the driver told them the cabbie who got the booking decided New Lynn was unsafe and rejected the job.

The driver who picked them up, Mohammad Shah, said cabbies felt unsafe going to late-night jobs in Glen Eden, New Lynn and South Auckland.

"People don't like to pay and run away, they abuse drivers."

Auckland Co-Op Taxi Society operations manager Jill Purser said the company would apologise for the delay.

But she said the women had booked at peak time and bad weather meant their 400-plus cabs were extra busy.

She also said it was incorrect to assume a taxi would be waiting for its passengers - even if they had booked.

She could not comment on the first driver refusing the job, saying the company needed to finish its investigation.

New Zealand Taxi Federation director Tim Reddish said the taxi should have turned up. "If Auckland Co-op took a forward booking it had an obligation to deliver a cab at that time."

New Zealand Transport Agency commercial operators manager John Doesburg said an accepted booking was a legally binding contract. "A driver cannot refuse a fare because of location. However, drivers may refuse a fare if they believe there is a risk to themselves."

TAXI TIPS

* When booking, ask for an estimated time of arrival and obtain a booking number.

* Some companies may offer the chance to prepay a fare, especially if the booking is for a late-night pick-up.

* If you're unhappy with the service, first try to resolve the issue with the company.

* If you're still not satisfied, contact the New Zealand Transport Agency who can fine companies up to $2000.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency