Latest news with #tollincrease
BBC News
a day ago
- Automotive
- BBC News
Humber Bridge tolls to go up later this year as new fees revealed
Tolls to cross the Humber Bridge will increase later this year, the bridge board has without an account will see the fee for a car rise from £1.50 to £2 with the cost for vans increasing to £5 and £15 for with an automatic payment HumberTag account will see prices increase from £1.35 to £1.50 for cars, with vans paying £4 and HGVs £ bridge's chief executive Andrew Arundel said the increase would go towards "ongoing maintenance". "Despite significant increases in the cost of operating and maintaining the bridge, the toll has remained frozen since 2012," Mr Arundel will continue to cross for free and the concession scheme for drivers with disabilities will continue. Patients on the south bank of the Humber Estuary travelling to Castle Hill Hospital for treatment will still be allowed to cross without paymentThe bridge board has given no date for the introduction of the increased tolls.A spokesperson said it was linked to launch of a new tolling system, called Humber Bridge Toll, which is expected to go live by late new system will mark the end of the toll booths with motorists required to pay via an app or the bridge's website, although there will be an option to use cash at designated payment to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Dartford Crossing charge to rise by 40 per cent in September – check how much you'll now have to pay
THE Dartford Crossing is set to become more expensive to use in just a couple of months time. The crossing - which was known as the Dartford Tunnel until 1991 - is made up of two tunnels and the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and carries a charge for many who use it. 3 Used by around 180,000 cars every day the cost of using the crossing will rise from £2.50 to £3.50 on September 1, marking the first price increase since 2014. Transport Secretary, Lilian Greenwood, explained the toll increase was necessary in order to manage the almost 200,000 vehicles that use it everyday. "I am aware that these necessary changes to the charges will be unwelcome news for users of the crossing," she said in a statement to parliament. "These traffic levels are well in excess of the crossing's design capacity, causing delays for drivers." Buses, coaches, vans and other commercial vehicles with two axles will pay up to £4.20 when the new fees kick in, while vehicles with more than two axles will have to pay up to £8.40. The Transport Minister promised "significant" discounts on the tolls for people living locally and car drivers with prepaid accounts. "I am aware that these necessary changes to the charges will be unwelcome news for users of the Crossing," Greenwood said in her stament. "I have been determined to keep the nominal fee paid by local people as low as possible, as many rely on the Crossing to get around their local area." She added that drivers who live in Dartford or Thurrock and who have signed up to the Scheme will pay £25 for unlimited annual crossings from September 1, which is a small increase from the current annual fee. Greenwood argued: "The new charges will be significantly lower than if they had increased in line with inflation since the tariff was last fully revised in 2014." Traffic chaos as 'protesters' climb bridge with warnings of huge delays during morning rush hour The charges at the Dartford Crossing vary depending on the type of vehicle being driven and if the driver already has an account set up on the website. The fees are often referred to as the Dart Charge. Since the tollbooths at the Dartford Crossing have been removed, the charge can be paid on the website. 3 Charges must be settled by midnight the day after crossing but can also be paid in advance. The government website can be used to pay the Dart Charge and to set up an account to make future payments easier and cheaper. Users can also use the service to pay or challenge a fine, as well as check which crossings they have paid for. 3
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Dartford Crossing charge to increase by 40 PER CENT in September - here's how much you'll have to pay
Drivers face an increase in pricing to use the Dartford Crossing from September in what motoring groups have dubbed a blatant 'revenue raiser'. With the charge first introduced in 2003, it was last upped a decade ago in 2014. However, from 1 September 2025, the cost will be going up again - and by 40 per cent. Lilian Greenwood, Parliamentary under-Secretary at the Department for Transport, confirmed this week that the existing one-off payment for cars, motorhomes and small minibuses of £2.50 will be increased to £3.50 from September to 'manage traffic'. All other road users will also see a 40 per cent hike, with coaches and vans levied £4.20 from September - up from £3 currently - and lorries facing an increase from £6 to £8.40. Motorcycles, moped and quad bikes will still be able to use the route free of charge. The crossing, which is made up of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge travelling southbound and the two Dartford Tunnels when heading north, connects Thurrock in Essex with Dartford in Kent and is used by more than 150,000 vehicles per day on average. The RAC Foundation said the suggestion that a 40 per cent increase is solely to manage traffic levels will 'raise more than a few eyebrows', while AA President Edmund King said the charge should have paid off construction costs for the bridge in 2003 but has been retained as a 'nice little earner which raised tens of millions of pounds every year'. In 2014, tollbooths were removed from the crossing and the online Dart Charge introduced to 'make journeys smoother'. A price hike was also implemented to 'help manage increased demand', though ministers claim that in the 11 years since, usage has grown by 7.5 per cent. With up to 180,000 vehicles using the crossing on the busiest days, Ms Greenwood attempted to defend the increase, saying traffic levels during peak times are 'well in excess of the crossing's design capacity'. She added that has been 'causing delays for drivers using the crossing, congestion and journey disruption to drivers on the M25 and a range of knock-on impacts for local communities'. Local residents who currently pay £20 a year to use the Dartford Crossing as many times as they want will have to pay £25 from when the charge increases on 1 September. Journeys made between the hours of 10pm and 6am will continue to be free. On average, 150,000 vehicles use the crossing daily. However, busier periods can see this figure rise to 180,000, which Greenwood said is 'well in excess of the crossing's design capacity' The crossing opened in three stages. The first west tunnel was completed in 1963 and - to cope with increasing traffic volumes - the second east tunnel arrived in 1980. The two tunnels are 1,430 metres long. The Queen Elizabeth Bridge was opened to traffic on 30 October 1991 to the tune of £120million. This included £30million for the approach roads. In 1999, the Government announced that tolling would end in 2003 - but it backtracked on this two years later, stating making it free would create more traffic. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said Greenwood's claim that a 40 per cent increase in the charge is to manage traffic will 'raise more than a few eyebrows given that those making the crossing have little alternative but to do so'. He added: 'Most people will, understandably, and probably rightly, see this move as nothing else but a revenue raiser.' The AA's Edmund King commented: 'Long-distance travellers from the UK and Europe, freight, business and regional users have all been sold down the river by successive governments through the unnecessary perpetuation of tolls and lack of future capacity at Dartford. 'Tolling was supposed to pay for the Dartford Bridge and then end, which would have been in 2003. 'However, it became a nice little earner which raised tens of millions of pounds every year. 'Ramping up the tolls by an extra pound, when the majority of users have no alternative about the time and place they cross the Thames, is simply road charging and a bridge too far.' James Barwise, policy lead at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said: 'Dartford remains the only practical Thames crossing for HGVs and coaches in the South East. 'It's therefore regrettable that the charge increase has been so significant. 'This adds to running costs at an already financially challenging time for many businesses in our sector (HGVs, coaches and vans) and ultimately pushes up prices for consumers.' The Government has given the go ahead for the Lower Thames Crossing, which it hopes will reducing congestion on the Dartford Crossing The new crossing will connect the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex via a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames, which would be the UK's longest road tunnel. Work on the project has been ongoing since 2009, and more than £800 million of taxpayers' money has been spent on planning. On Monday, Treasury minister Emma Reynolds suffered an embarrassing meltdown in a live interview when she struggled to answer basic questions about the new River Thames crossing. In a toe-curling moment during an interview with LBC, the economic secretary was unable to give the location or the total cost of the project. She also mistakenly referred to the existing crossing being the 'Dartmouth Tunnel', apparently confusing the Devon town with Dartford. 'I meant Dartford, excuse me, I had a very early morning,' the minister told LBC Radio. Asked by presenter Nick Ferrari about the proposed new crossing's location, Ms Reynolds frantically leafed through paperwork. 'You'll forgive me, I can't recall the landing zone,' she said.
The Independent
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Dartford Crossing fee rises are ‘revenue raiser', motoring groups claim
Motoring groups have criticised the decision to increase Dartford Crossing charges by 40%. Transport minister Lilian Greenwood announced fees for the crossing, which features a bridge and two tunnels connecting Thurrock in Essex with Dartford in Kent, will rise from September 1 to 'manage traffic'. Examples of increases for one-off payments in from £2.50 to £3.50 for cars, from £3 to £4.20 for coaches and vans, and from £6 to £8.40 for lorries. It is the first time prices have gone up since 2013. With up to 180,000 vehicles using the crossing on the busiest days, Ms Greenwood described the traffic levels as 'well in excess of the crossing's design capacity, causing delays for drivers using the crossing, congestion and journey disruption to drivers on the M25 and a range of knock-on impacts for local communities'. Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: 'The claim that this 40% increase in the charge is all about managing traffic will raise more than a few eyebrows given that those making the crossing have little alternative but to do so. 'Most people will, understandably, and probably rightly, see this move as nothing else but a revenue raiser.' Edmund King, AA president, said: 'Long-distance travellers from the UK and Europe, freight, business and regional users have all been sold down the river by successive governments through the unnecessary perpetuation of tolls and lack of future capacity at Dartford. 'Tolling was supposed to pay for the Dartford Bridge and then end, which would have been in 2003. 'However, it became a nice little earner which raised tens of millions of pounds every year. 'Ramping up the tolls by an extra pound, when the majority of users have no alternative about the time and place they cross the Thames, is simply road charging and a bridge too far.' James Barwise, Road Haulage Association (RHA) policy lead, said: 'Dartford remains the only practical Thames crossing for HGVs and coaches in the South East. 'It's therefore regrettable that the charge increase has been so significant. 'This adds to running costs at an already financially challenging time for many businesses in our sector (HGVs, coaches and vans) and ultimately pushes up prices for consumers.' The Government has given the go ahead for the Lower Thames Crossing, which it hopes will reducing congestion on the Dartford Crossing The new crossing will connect the A2 and M2 in Kent to the A13 and M25 in Essex via a 2.6-mile tunnel under the Thames, which would be the UK's longest road tunnel. Work on the project has been ongoing since 2009, and more than £800 million of taxpayers' money has been spent on planning.
Auto Express
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Dart Charge Dartford crossing tolls leap 40% as government tries to "manage demand"
Drivers will soon have to pay more in order to use the Dartford Crossing as government ministers claim the current rate is insufficient to 'manage demand and protect the crossing'. Currently, the majority of motorists must pay £2.50 if they wish to make use of either the QE2 bridge or the Dartford Tunnel if they are travelling clockwise or anti-clockwise on the M25 respectively. Advertisement - Article continues below However, the charge for cars is set to increase by £1 (40 per cent) in September to £3.50 per crossing; those with a DART account will see charges increase by 80 pence from £2 to £2.80. Motorcyclists making use of the crossing still won't have to pay the charge, but two-axled buses, coaches and HGVs will see prices increase to £4.20 (£3.60 for DART account holders) and those with more than two axles will, from September, have to pay £8.40 (£7.20 if you have a DART account). Local residents can pay £25 per year for unlimited crossings, up from £20 annually. In a statement, Transport Secretary Lillian Greenwood said that she is 'aware that these necessary changes to the charges will be unwelcome news for users of the crossing'. Greenwood continued: 'In the 11 years since [the charge was last increased], demand at the crossing has grown 7.5 per cent, with the crossing now used by an average of over 150,000 vehicles every day and up to 180,000 vehicles on the busiest days 'These traffic levels are well in excess of the crossing's design capacity, causing delays for drivers using the crossing, congestion and journey disruption to drivers on the M25 and a range of knock-on impacts for local communities'. The new charge will come into effect on 1 September, with the government keen to remind drivers that the increase is still below inflationary levels between now and when toll booths were removed in 2014. Come and join our WhatsApp channel for the latest car news and reviews...
