The familiar, static call over the cab radio is gone. No more will passengers hear “Parke Street for Leura” or “Blackheath local only”.
Katoomba-Leura Radio Cabs has gone digital, with requests from taxis now being handled through a call centre in Coffs Harbour.
John Holmes, a director of the co-op which runs the taxis, said there had been a few “teething problems” with the new system, introduced two weeks ago.
Mostly, it was the drivers trying to adapt to having jobs displayed on the screen of a tablet, rather than over the radio.
“It’s just new and everyone has just got to get used to using the new stuff,” he said. “But the feedback from customers has been very, very good.”
Mr Holmes said the changes were necessary because the government is introducing new regulations in the wake of competition from the Uber driving service.
“We will be required by law to keep records of each job,” he said, which included tracking the route taken. “Really, the only way we will be able to operate is under a data system.”
The changeover has cost the jobs of four radio operators, who used to man the Katoomba office 24/7.
One of the redundant operators, Michael Waring, was concerned how some older customers would deal with the call centre.
“Like the regulars who ring up and say they’re in the house with the blue fence down Lurline Street then just hang up,” he said.
