Passengers in Washington, Tyne and Wear, may soon pay more for taxi journeys following a proposal by Sunderland City Council to increase fares by an average of 4.1 per cent. The local authority approved the next stage of the plan on February 16, 2026, after taxi drivers raised concerns about the growing cost of running their vehicles.
Under the new rules, the price of a standard two-mile journey would increase from £7.20 to £7.40. The price rise is intended to help drivers cover higher costs for insurance, fuel, and the expensive maintenance of wheelchair-accessible cars.
Most taxi operators in Washington support the change, stating it is necessary to ensure their services remain available to the public. However, some drivers in other parts of the city have expressed concern that higher prices might lead customers to use other booking services, such as Uber, instead.
A public consultation will open on February 21, 2026, to gather feedback from residents and businesses about the new rates. If the council does not receive significant objections, the higher fares are expected to take effect on April 1, 2026.
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