- 183
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Cadence
- 2014
- First episode
About Cab Chat Radio Show
The Taxi Trades Premier Podcast
- Publisher
- Cab Chat
- Category
- education · leisure · news
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 23 Sept 2014
- Latest episode
- 9 Sept 2026
Latest episodes
183 episodes in the feed.
9 Sept 2026
What It’s Really Like Being a Cabbie with Cabbie Karen
The Cab Chat Show Episode 297 with Cabbie Karen Join us for an insightful London Black Cab chat as we sit down with Karen to discuss life behind the wheel. The Cab Chat Show has been the voice of the taxi industry since 2014, providing a unique look into the lives of those navigating the streets of the UK. In this episode, we sit down with Karen for an open conversation about her experiences and the realities of being a driver in the capital. Whether you are a fellow professional or just interested in the UK taxi trade, this discussion offers a genuine perspective on the daily challenges and stories that define the profession. We break down what it really takes to manage the knowledge and serve passengers across London. Subscribe for weekly insights into the taxi world, and let us know in the comments what topic you want to hear us cover next. The Cab Chat Show is a podcast mainly centred around London and it’s Iconic Black Cab Trade but also including the Hackney Carriage trade around the UK The Cab Chat Show has been running since 2014 and is the longest running Taxi related podcast in the UK. Visit the Cab Chat YouTube Channel http://cabchat.uk Visit Jamie the Cabby YouTube Channel / @jamiethecabby Vist Tom the Taxi Driver Channel / @tomthetaxidriver CHECK ME OUT: 💌 Sign up to our newsletter – https://jamiethecabby.com/newsletter 🌍 My website – https://www.cabchatshow.uk 📸 Instagram – https://instagram.com/cabchatuk 🐦 Twitter – https://twitter.com/cabchat 🚕 To book a Wedding Taxi – https://weddingtaxis.co.uk 🚕 To book a Tour of London – https://jamiethecabby 💍 Wedding Transport 🎬 Filming Hire ✈️ Airport Transfers 📢 Promotions 🚕 Taxi Advertising 🎥 Studio Tours 📩 admin@cabchatshow.uk 📸 @cabchatuk 🌍 Link in bio Equipment I use: Sony a6700 https://amzn.to/4j76Nnk Sony ZV1 https://amzn.to/4iPvZze Macbook Air 13″ https://amzn.to/444ndZr DJI Osmo Pocket 3 https://amzn.to/3DMBgIH DJI Osmo Pockt 2 https://amzn.to/43yF4Yw DJi Osmo Action 5 https://amzn.to/4j9ZHPd GoPro Hero https://amzn.to/3Y0y8jl Rode Wireless Go 2 https://amzn.to/446OtGP Rode Podmic USB https://amzn.to/3Rfzenz Call me a Cabbie by Phil Nelson & Mark Bird We are London by The Knowledge Band Don’t forget to Like & Subscribe. And hit the notification bell too, so you’ll never miss any future videos.
3 Sept 2026
Heathrow’s New Taxi System Crashed Five Times in Eight Days
Cab Chat Show E296 Jamie the Cabby and Tom the Taxi Driver break down Heathrow Airport’s new taxi dispatch system, why drivers say it has struggled since launch, and how it compares with the old tag-based setup. They also dig into the practical impact on feeder park queues, local-job turnaround times, and whether the new app actually works for the people who use it every day. Speakers Jamie the Cabby – Co-host, explains the Heathrow system changes, rollout timeline, and driver complaints Tom the Taxi Driver – Co-host, questions the system design, compares queue times, and adds examples from the rank Key topics In this episode: the old Heathrow tag system is replaced by an app-based dispatch system, but the rollout was delayed and the new setup repeatedly crashed. Jamie shares: the old system relied on a card, booster box, and reader at the South feeder park, with terminal allocation handled through a small screen and rank agents. We discuss: the new system was promised as app-based, GPS-aware, and able to remove the need for drivers to keep visiting the office unless there was a problem. Jamie explains: local journeys were supposed to be handled without a strict time limit, but in practice drivers are still being given an hour to get back. Tom raises: the app seems to punish drivers for using the quickest route back if that route briefly leaves the geofenced area. We discuss: the app reportedly has to stay open continuously, which creates problems if signal drops or GPS availability changes. Jamie says: the system was switched off on 21 July, but the app was not properly ready, and payment functionality was still being handled manually at the barrier. Tom notes: manual paper-ticket handling and batch dispatch can actually move cabs faster than the app, even if the old process seems less modern. We discuss: reported queue numbers on the app do not always match what drivers physically see in the North and South parks. Jamie and Tom question: whether the system is being used to exclude drivers who should not be working Heathrow, since the parks filled rapidly when the system went down. We discuss: concerns raised publicly about technical failures, geofencing, and whether the app was properly tested with real driver scenarios before launch. Jamie shares: the project has cost roughly two and a half million pounds and came from money drivers had no direct control over. Timestamps 00:00 – Introducing Heathrow’s new taxi system and why it matters 00:41 – The rollout was delayed and the first launch crashed 02:26 – How long the system has been in development 04:33 – What the old Heathrow tag system actually did 05:57 – The app-based replacement and the switch-off date 07:55 – The app was not ready when the old system was removed 09:17 – Manual payment at the barrier replaces the planned payment flow 10:50 – What drivers were promised the new system would do 11:45 – Local journeys, time limits, and why drivers object 13:11 – Geofencing problems and routes that trigger logouts 14:09 – Public concern over technical failures and driver restrictions 15:29 – Why testing should have involved real drivers 16:58 – The app’s designers are too far removed from taxi work 17:40 – Keeping the app open and the problem with phone coverage 18:24 – Why a dedicated device would make more sense 19:29 – The advice to leave phones in the cab 20:41 – Testing the system against real Heathrow driving patterns 21:44 – Friday night feeder park times and a live example 24:26 – The feeder park filled up after the system went down 25:47 – Why some drivers think the system is excluding the wrong people 27:18 – How the app code slows dispatch at the barrier 30:30 – Waiting times shown in the app versus what drivers see 31:05 – Queue numbers that do not seem to match reality 32:20 – Being forced to specify a terminal on local jobs 33:05 – The difference between coding an app and designing one well 34:42 – Why architecture and usability matter more than the code itself 35:31 – Reports that the same app has failed at other airports too 36:57 – Heathrow’s funding and lack of driver input 37:24 – A possible charge-point scam and how people exploit loopholes 39:45 – A brief tangent on rank etiquette and the Japanese taxi system 40:22 – Current success rate and why they want to revisit the topic 41:41 – Why Heathrow cannot simply open to every driver 42:56 – More drivers could mean longer queues, not fewer problems 43:29 – Closing thoughts, the old system’s “funeral,” and deposit questions The Cab Chat Show is a podcast mainly centred around London and it’s Iconic Black Cab Trade but also including the Hackney Carriage trade around the UK The Cab Chat Show has been running since 2014 and is the longest running Taxi related podcast in the UK. Visit the Cab Chat YouTube Channel http://cabchat.uk Visit Jamie the Cabby YouTube Channel / @jamiethecabby Vist Tom the Taxi Driver Channel / @tomthetaxidriver CHECK ME OUT: 💌 Sign up to our newsletter – https://jamiethecabby.com/newsletter 🌍 My website – https://www.cabchatshow.uk 📸 Instagram – https://instagram.com/cabchatuk 🐦 Twitter – https://twitter.com/cabchat 🚕 To book a Wedding Taxi – https://weddingtaxis.co.uk 🚕 To book a Tour of London – https://jamiethecabby 💍 Wedding Transport 🎬 Filming Hire ✈️ Airport Transfers 📢 Promotions 🚕 Taxi Advertising 🎥 Studio Tours 📩 admin@cabchatshow.uk 📸 @cabchatuk 🌍 Link in bio Equipment I use: Sony a6700 https://amzn.to/4j76Nnk Sony ZV1 https://amzn.to/4iPvZze Macbook Air 13″ https://amzn.to/444ndZr DJI Osmo Pocket 3 https://amzn.to/3DMBgIH DJI Osmo Pockt 2 https://amzn.to/43yF4Yw DJi Osmo Action 5 https://amzn.to/4j9ZHPd GoPro Hero https://amzn.to/3Y0y8jl Rode Wireless Go 2 https://amzn.to/446OtGP Rode Podmic USB https://amzn.to/3Rfzenz Call me a Cabbie by Phil Nelson & Mark Bird We are London by The Knowledge Band Don’t forget to Like & Subscribe. And hit the notification bell too, so you’ll never miss any future videos.
25 Aug 2026
TFL’s Autonomous Car Trial Is Not What It Claims to Be
The Cab Chat Show E295 Cab Chat – Are autonomous vehicles really autonomous? Jamie the Cabby and Tom the Taxi Driver return from holiday with a practical, opinionated look at TfL’s licensing of up to 15 Wave-operated Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles in London. They unpack what “autonomous” means when a licensed private hire driver still has to sit in the front seat, and why that makes the whole thing feel more like a trial than a true driverless rollout. Speaker coverage Jamie the Cabby – shares a recent Disneyland Paris trip, argues the licensing is effectively just another private hire vehicle, and raises concerns about safety, passenger support, disability access, and the inconsistency of TfL rules. Tom the Taxi Driver – returns from Mallorca, explains what he saw on the road, reads from Taxi Point, questions the legal and practical implications, and pushes the argument that the public-facing “driverless” label is misleading. Key topics In this episode: Jamie and Tom open with holiday stories, including Jamie’s trip to Disneyland Paris and Tom’s week in Mallorca, before moving into the main topic. They discuss TfL’s licensing of up to 15 Wave-operated all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles as a one-year trial. Tom explains that the vehicles are described as autonomous-capable, but must be supervised by a licensed private hire driver sitting in the front seat. Jamie argues that if a human is responsible for offences, steering intervention, and passenger safety, then the vehicle is not truly driverless in any meaningful sense. They question who is actually liable if the vehicle drives the wrong way down a street, commits an offence, or is involved in an accident. The pair highlight the confusion around Wave, Waymo, Uber, and what platform is actually operating these vehicles. They compare the relative openness of this licensing with the heavy scrutiny faced by cab and private hire drivers over issues like turning circles, cameras, and vehicle equipment. They debate whether autonomous vehicles would work better on buses, trains, or fixed routes rather than in complex city streets. Jamie makes the case that drivers provide more than transport, including assistance for blind, elderly, or vulnerable passengers, which autonomous vehicles cannot replicate. They close by arguing that the trial mostly delays the real decision for a year while TfL gathers more evidence and public opinion. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome back after the holiday break 02:30 – Mallorca heat, Dubai-style nights, and camper van wheel upgrades 03:46 – TfL licenses 15 Wave-operated autonomous-capable vehicles 04:41 – Right-hand-drive vehicles and spotting one on the road 06:31 – Why left-hand drive would raise safety concerns 07:21 – The supervision caveat that changes everything 09:18 – A one-year trial that kicks the issue down the road 11:34 – Why the wider public and politicians are also sceptical 12:22 – London Assembly questions whether TfL has rushed this 14:14 – Why the London trial may be about optics as much as function 16:44 – Is it really driverless if someone sits behind the wheel? 18:38 – What exactly has TfL licensed? 20:14 – Camera, radar, and compliance double standards 21:39 – Recording in public versus TfL approval rules 23:10 – Privacy labels, QR codes, and inconsistent vehicle standards 24:37 – Conclusion that this is basically another private hire vehicle 25:35 – The supervising driver must be licensed and DBS checked 27:12 – Blind passenger assistance and why human drivers still matter 30:33 – Accessibility, cycle lanes, and the limits of automation in London 33:03 – Why knowledge students and cab drivers are less exposed than app-based drivers 35:13 – American guests and why many people distrust driverless cars 36:01 – The social cost of pushing people further apart 37:51 – Final wrap-up: the trial is mostly spin for now 39:03 – Subscribe, watch time, and channel growth update “Is it driverless or isn’t it driverless?” “They’ve licensed an autonomous capable vehicle, but they are being supervised for a year.” “You are the supervisor of your cab.” The Cab Chat Show is a podcast mainly centred around London and it’s Iconic Black Cab Trade but also including the Hackney Carriage trade around the UK The Cab Chat Show has been running since 2014 and is the longest running Taxi related podcast in the UK. Visit the Cab Chat YouTube Channel http://cabchat.uk Visit Jamie the Cabby YouTube Channel / @jamiethecabby Vist Tom the Taxi Driver Channel / @tomthetaxidriver CHECK ME OUT: 💌 Sign up to our newsletter – https://jamiethecabby.com/newsletter 🌍 My website – https://www.cabchatshow.uk 📸 Instagram – https://instagram.com/cabchatuk 🐦 Twitter – https://twitter.com/cabchat 🚕 To book a Wedding Taxi – https://weddingtaxis.co.uk 🚕 To book a Tour of London – https://jamiethecabby 💍 Wedding Transport 🎬 Filming Hire ✈️ Airport Transfers 📢 Promotions 🚕 Taxi Advertising 🎥 Studio Tours 📩 admin@cabchatshow.uk 📸 @cabchatuk 🌍 Link in bio Equipment I use: Sony a6700 https://amzn.to/4j76Nnk Sony ZV1 https://amzn.to/4iPvZze Macbook Air 13″ https://amzn.to/444ndZr DJI Osmo Pocket 3 https://amzn.to/3DMBgIH DJI Osmo Pockt 2 https://amzn.to/43yF4Yw DJi Osmo Action 5 https://amzn.to/4j9ZHPd GoPro Hero https://amzn.to/3Y0y8jl Rode Wireless Go 2 https://amzn.to/446OtGP Rode Podmic USB https://amzn.to/3Rfzenz Call me a Cabbie by Phil Nelson & Mark Bird We are London by The Knowledge Band Don’t forget to Like & Subscribe. And hit the notification bell too, so you’ll never miss any future videos.
Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
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