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Express train service Flytoget protests doubled taxi prices to Oslo Airport
🇳🇴 Norway /Energy & Infrastructure

Express train service Flytoget protests doubled taxi prices to Oslo Airport

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Flytoget, the express train service to Oslo Airport, is raising concerns about significantly increased taxi prices to the airport.
  • The company reports experiencing double billing and falsified requisitions since taxi price caps were removed in January.
  • Taxi companies attribute the price hikes to oversupply and low margins for drivers.

Flytoget, the express train service connecting Oslo to Gardermoen Airport, has sounded the alarm over sharply rising taxi fares. Since the removal of maximum price regulations for taxis in January, the company has observed a dramatic increase in costs for transporting passengers to the airport during train disruptions.

We are now experiencing that the system is being challenged by more and more people. And that the prices have gone through the roof.

— Åge PedersenDirector of business management at Flytoget, describing the impact of increased taxi prices.

"We are now experiencing that the system is being challenged by more and more people. And that the prices have gone through the roof," said Åge Pedersen, director of business management at Flytoget, to the newspaper Dagens Næringsliv. Before the price cap was lifted on January 15, Flytoget typically paid around 1300 Norwegian kroner for the journey from Oslo to Gardermoen during daytime hours.

Now, many of the smaller companies are invoicing over 2500 kroner for the same trip. We are talking about a doubling just since January.

— Åge PedersenFlytoget's director detailing the extent of the price increases.

"Now, many of the smaller companies are invoicing over 2500 kroner for the same trip. We are talking about a doubling just since January," Pedersen stated. He added that Flytoget is currently paying these fares but is approaching a breaking point. The company has also identified several instances of double billing and falsified receipts, leading to some drivers being banned from serving Flytoget.

We have uncovered several cases of double billing and falsification of requisitions.

— Åge PedersenFlytoget's director highlighting fraudulent practices discovered.

Anders Berg, communications manager at Oslo Taxi, suggested that the issues stem from an oversupply in the market. He noted that the number of taxis in the Oslo area has surged from 1900 in 2019 to as many as 5500 at times. "The drivers are operating on terribly low margins, and when they see an opportunity to make money, then this happens. It is bad," Berg commented.

The drivers are operating on terribly low margins, and when they see an opportunity to make money, then this happens. It is bad.

— Anders BergOslo Taxi's communications manager explaining the drivers' motivations behind high prices.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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