Taxi drivers in Slough have shared how they have seen a slump in customers since the pandemic, with train strikes and disruption seeing money trickling in as they fight off competition from Uber.

Slough Taxis, a group of 80 drivers who largely operate from the train station, have said they rely on commuters to make money.

"We have been suffering ever since the strikes," Paramjit Badial, a driver with Slough Taxi Federation, said. "We are losing business."

"There are not enough customers and our main business is from the trains.

"If they are not running we are the first ones to lose out. All the drivers have been affected."

Drivers believed that on strike days they lose out on 50 to 70 of their business.

Mr Badial, who has been a taxi driver in Slough for 30 years, added: "A lot of drivers have left and moved on to doing whatever else they can find.

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"It has been difficult since the pandemic. We have also lost a lot of business to Uber. They have all the tech."

In an average 10-hour shift, taxi drivers said they average seven to eight customers, with very few trips costing over £10.

"It is not enough money. Drivers have to do long hours or something else part-time."

Councillor Harjinder S. Gahir, a member of the federation, said that when trains don't run it makes a big difference to drivers days.

"If there is a strike we don't get work. The strikes are happening too often."

Cllr Gahir added that the government need to negotiate with workers before further strike action.

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He praised Tan Dhesi for being vocal in parliament in a bid to prevent further strike action.

Secretary of Slough Taxi Federation, Ranjit Ghotra, 42, said on some occasions, over half of the workforce goes home because there is no trade.

"It is really upsetting. They need to sit down and negotiate as the strikes are impacting everyone.

"We are probably 70 per cent down on strike days. It is not enough to sustain my family."

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The fare for two miles in a Slough taxi is approximately £7 - with drivers having to cover costs for fuel, insurance and road tax.

"We have also lost a lot of trade from the Bath Road. A lot of businesses have closed and shuttle buses are running in the area."

Mr Ghotra said that initially, they all felt the impact of Uber, but in the last year, he believes Uber has hiked their prices and has become unreliable with an increase in cancellations.

Uber has been approached for comment.

The majority of train strikes are being fronted by unions ASLEF and RMT. 

Speaking on strike action, ASLEF’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: "Many of our members have now not had a single penny increase to their pay in half a decade, during which inflation soared and with it the cost of living. 

"Train drivers didn't even ask for an increase during the Covid-19 pandemic when they worked throughout as key workers, risking their lives to allow NHS and other workers to travel.

"The government and train operating companies must come to the table with a realistic [pay] offer so we can end this dispute and work together to ensure the future of our railways."

RMT came to an agreement with rail operators in November 2023 over pay and conditioners - meaning there is no further strike action planned.

The agreement included a ban on compulsory redundancies in 2024 and a withdrawal of both plans to close rail station ticket offices and the extension of working hours.

Staff will be given a backdated pay award for 2022 of at least 5 per cent or £1,750, whichever is higher. With the wages of lower-paid staff rising by up to 13 per cent.