As of: January 25, 2024, 6:30 a.m
By: Dominik Stallein
Comments
Press
Split
Black taxi: Christine Ferjani drives this car for the Podobnik taxi company.
Many cars are in use during the rail strike.
© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
The GDL is on strike again.
Many commuters are looking for alternatives - for example, taking a taxi.
We asked around.
Wolfratshausen – The Wolfratshauser was in a pretty bad mood in the morning.
“He scolded a lot,” remembers Christine Ferjani.
“Especially about the railways and the fact that they are on strike again.” He had enough time for that.
Ferjani listened to this.
She usually covers the distance to the Donnersbergerbrücke in Munich, where the gentleman wanted to go, in under half an hour.
This time it took longer.
Much longer.
“From the Kiesselbach Tunnel we only drove at 10 km/h,” says Ferjani.
“A lot of people probably came up with the idea of taking the car.”
“It’s like Oktoberfest for us”: rail strike means extra orders for taxi drivers
Otherwise it is difficult these days to get reliably from Wolfratshausen to Munich.
For taxi companies, the train cancellations mean more orders.
A train runs once an hour.
“I think that most people have already thought about how they would get to work if the trains were canceled,” says Ferjani.
The taxi companies are prepared.
“We are traveling with a lot of colleagues today,” says Ferjani.
She herself is not sitting in a yellow car with the distinctive “Taxi” roof sign, but in a black car.
Additional cars in use: Taxi companies react to train cancellations
“Rental Car Podobnik” is written in blue letters on the back door.
Plus the telephone number of the call taxi.
“We're doing well, my colleagues are only here at the stand for a very short time,” Ferjani observed while waiting at the station roundabout.
Then they have to set off on the next trip.
Christine Ferjani is also rushing away now – “Wednesday is dialysis day,” she explains.
And there are many regular customers who are driven there.
Taxis are all on the move in Wolfratshausen: “There’s really a lot going on today” - the first day of the strike ensures full order books
At 12.30 p.m. there is not a single taxi at the collection point at the train station.
This doesn't change until 1 p.m.
“It's really, really busy today,” says taxi entrepreneur Claudia Podobnik in a quiet moment on Wednesday afternoon.
Since the GDL announced a strike, the phone at headquarters has been ringing more often than usual. “Some have reserved a trip early on.” These trips will be prioritized, “but we are trying to cover all requests,” assures Podobnik.
In particular, their employees make longer journeys more often than usual: “Many want to go to Munich – they would otherwise have taken the train.”
More taxis than usual on the road: rail strike since Wednesday
The entrepreneur has a larger fleet than usual on the road: Instead of three taxis and an additional vehicle that covers reserved trips, a total of six cars with Podobnik lettering are in use.
“And all of them are busy,” says Claudia Podobnik after looking at the reservations.
My news
Farmer surprises burglars - and gives the police crucial tips
“I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy”: Attack in the old town – perpetrators tie up jeweler and his wife read
Advertising board on Königsdorfer Straße: Does it have to go?
City requested review reading
Jeweler tied up and robbed: perpetrator on the run – police ask for information
How much can eating out cost?
Some innkeepers are raising prices - and are looking for a middle ground
“Will destroy the slopes”: winter fun in Beuerberg a “fragile” pleasure read
It is not the first rail strike that the taxi entrepreneur has experienced.
And despite all the trouble that widespread train cancellations mean for commuters and students: Podobnik is not entirely unhappy when GDL boss Claus Weselsky announces the next strike by his train drivers' union.
“For us it’s like Oktoberfest.
Of course we take that with us.”
Will taxi prices rise during the rail strike?
Entrepreneur explains
Rental car companies and private driving services adjust their prices to demand - that is.
When it comes to taxi rides, customers are on the safe side: “The tariffs are set depending on the area – the clocks are even calibrated.
We couldn’t change anything even if we wanted to,” explains entrepreneur Podobnik.
The following applies in the district: The kilometer driven costs 2.30 euros.
You can find more news in our brand new Merkur.de app, now in an improved design with more personalization functions.
Direct download, more information can be found here.
Are you an enthusiastic user of WhatsApp?
Merkur.de will now keep you up to date via a new Whatsapp channel.
Click here to go directly to the channel.