Kuver operations team · 24 August 2026
Anyone who has attempted to travel anywhere by train in the United Kingdom in recent times will be well aware of the frustrations of traveling by train. Strikes on the railways have been halting millions of journeys in the UK over the last couple of years, and the situation really isn't over yet. Unnoticeable cancellations. Packed replacement buses. Platforms teeming with confused and frustrated passengers who simply needed to get somewhere.
Meanwhile, as no one is the wiser, many of those passengers no longer depend on the train. Not for everything. Except for the journeys that really count, however, most are opting for a licensed private hire taxi instead of airport transfers, work trips, or family outings. When they do go back, a lot of them don't. Here's why.
The Train Strike Problem Is Bigger Than Most People Realise
Let's put some context around this because it's easy to forget how disruptive the situation has actually been. The UK has seen some of the most widespread rail strike action in decades. Disputes among drivers, conductors, and network staff across multiple unions have meant that even when one industrial action ends, another begins somewhere else. The result for passengers has been months of uncertainty, last-minute cancellations, and journeys that couldn't happen as planned.
For commuters, it's been exhausting. For people with Gatwick airport transfers or time-sensitive travel, it's been genuinely costly. Missed flights. Missed meetings. Missed occasions that can't be rescheduled. The uncertainty is arguably the worst part. You can deal with a cancelled train if you know about it in advance. What you can't deal with is finding out at 6 am on the morning of a flight that your service isn't running, and there's nothing until the afternoon. Private hire taxis don't strike. Your driver doesn't cancel because of a union dispute. And that reliability, in the current climate, is worth a lot.
Airport Transfers Are Where the Switch Makes the Most Sense
Not every journey needs to be rethought. If you're doing a short local commute and the trains are running, fine. But for airport transfers, particularly to somewhere like Gatwick, the case for switching to private hire is genuinely strong even without the strikes factored in.
Add the strikes, and it becomes a no-brainer. Think about what an airport journey actually requires. You need to leave at a specific time. You need to arrive with enough time to check in. You have luggage. You possibly have other people travelling with you. There is a hard deadline at the end of it that, if you miss it, costs you real money. Putting that journey in the hands of a rail network that might or might not be running on any given day is a risk that's hard to justify. A pre-booked private hire transfer removes that risk entirely. Your driver is confirmed. Your pickup time is confirmed. Your vehicle is confirmed. None of that changes because someone decided to walk out.
What to Look for When Switching to Private Hire
If you're making the switch or just trying it for the first time, there are a few things worth knowing before you book.
Make sure the operator is licensed. Every legitimate private hire company in the UK operates under a licence issued by the local authority. That means licensed drivers, inspected vehicles, and proper passenger insurance. Don't book with anyone who can't demonstrate this clearly.
Get a fixed fare. Not an estimate. A fixed, all-in fare that won't change between booking and arrival. This is what separates a transparent operator from one that adds charges at the end.
Book in advance. Particularly during periods of rail strike action when demand for alternative transport goes up. Last-minute availability drops and prices rise. Getting your booking early locks in a fair price and guarantees your driver.
Check what's included. Waiting time if your flight is delayed. Luggage. Meet and greet if you need it. Ask before you confirm so there are no surprises.
Kuver ticks all of these. Licensed drivers, fixed fares, transparent pricing, covering Crawley, Gatwick, and West Sussex. If rail disruption has pushed you toward exploring private hire properly, it's a solid place to start.
Is This a Permanent Shift or Just a Reaction to the Strikes?
Honestly? Probably both. A lot of people discovered private hire taxi travel during the strikes because they had no other option. And then they realised it was actually better for their particular journey type than the train had ever been. Door to door. Fixed price. No dragging luggage through stations. No connections. No standing in the aisle for forty minutes. Some of them will go back to the train for short commutes and day trips. That makes sense. Trains are genuinely good for certain things. But for airport transfers, family travel, business trips, and any journey where reliability and comfort actually matter, the switch to licensed private hire looks increasingly permanent for a growing number of UK passengers. The strikes accelerated something that was probably going to happen anyway.
Done with the uncertainty of rail travel?
Book a confirmed, fixed-fare private hire transfer and know exactly what's happening with your journey before the day arrives. No strikes. No cancellations. No last minute scramble.
👉 Book Your Ride Now Or call 01293 974097 to speak to someone directly.
FAQs
- Are there still any railway strikes in the UK in 2025?
Disruptions to the railways have continued throughout the UK, fuelled by industrial action from multiple rail operators and unions. Know the latest news from National Rail, but where a journey is time-critical, book one of our licensed private hire transfers and avoid any reliance on rail services.
- Would it be cheaper to travel to Gatwick by private hire taxi than by train?
Spend some time on it, and it can be either, or according to distance and time. A pre-booked private hire taxi is sometimes not much more expensive per person and much more convenient than a shared taxi service for 2 or more passengers, and definitely more convenient door to door.
- Does Gatwick airport have private hire services?
Yes, and one of the most common usage scenarios. A pre-booked Gatwick airport transfer service using a private hire car from a licensed taxi company means that you have a guaranteed driver, a fixed cost, and you're not waiting for a train or a taxi rank.
- In which area does Kuver cover?
Kuver serves the area of Crawley, Gatwick and the rest of West Sussex. Please contact 01293 974097 or book online for fare information and to check coverage.
