Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels user charge

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The Silvertown tunnel will open in 2025 and will help reduce congestion and deliver faster, more reliable journeys in east London, including new public transport connections.

In preparation for the tunnel opening, we asked to hear your views about:

  • Our proposed charge levels, and
  • Our proposed discounts and exemptions for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels

The consultation period has now closed. You can find updates on the scheme in the Latest news section.


Summary

Plans for the Silvertown Tunnel were first developed in 2012. When it opens in 2025, the new tunnel will help reduce congestion and deliver faster, more reliable journeys in east London, making travel times up to 20 minutes quicker. There will also be a significant increase in bus services across the river and a new bus shuttle through the tunnel for cyclists.

To deliver the benefits of the tunnel and cover the construction costs, charges will apply on both the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels. A supporting package of discounts and concessions will also be made available to make the scheme as green and fair as possible.

The video below explains why we are building the Silvertown Tunnel and what we are asking for your feedback on.



Tackling local issues


Local residents and businesses currently face chronic congestion in the area around the Blackwall Tunnel. The Victorian-era tunnel suffers from frequent closures - more than 700 times a year – which results in large tailbacks, poor air quality and millions of hours lost due to drivers being trapped in traffic. The new tunnel linking Silvertown in east London to the Greenwich Peninsula will reduce journey times and help manage air pollution.


Delivering benefits


To deliver the benefits of the tunnel and cover the construction costs charges will apply on both the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels.

Without these charges, traffic would increase in both tunnels, drivers would continue to experience major delays and air pollution would increase.

The requirement to charge for the tunnels was confirmed in the Development Consent Order (DCO) made by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2018 (Silvertown Tunnel Order 2018).


Who will pay?


We propose:

  • There would be no charge at any time for taxis, blue badge holders, zero-emission capable and wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles registered with TfL and DVLA-registered minibuses, buses and coaches
  • Charges would apply from 06:00 to 22:00, seven days a week. The standard off-peak rate of £1.50 for cars, motorbikes and small vans would apply for the majority of the time for all vehicles registered for Auto Pay
  • To manage traffic during the busiest times, peak charges would apply. Peak charges are £1 more than standard off-peak charges for motorbikes and an extra £2.50 for cars and small vans

  • These peak charges would apply for four hours northbound in the morning (from 06:00 to 10:00) and three hours southbound in the evening (from 16:00 to 19:00), Monday to Friday


Discounts and supporting measures


To help residents and businesses, and to support people to use new public transport connections , TfL has proposed a package of discounts and concessions to make the scheme as green and fair as possible.

Discounts include:

  • A 50 per cent discount for low-income drivers living in east London
  • A £1 discount on the standard off-peak charge for small businesses and charities in the host boroughs (RB Greenwich, LB Newham and LB Tower Hamlets)

A complete list of all proposed discounts, exemptions and reimbursements can be found on the ‘Discounts & Exemptions’ tab on this website.

Our green and fair package of supporting measures include:

  • New buses - 21 zero-emission buses (at tailpipe) per hour crossing the river at peak times (15 in the Silvertown Tunnel, six in the Blackwall Tunnel) including the SL4 Superloop route

  • Free cycle bus provision (at least 12 months) - A regular cross-river cycle shuttle-bus bus service through the Silvertown Tunnel for cyclists, free for at least 12 months

  • Bus concession to support local residents (at least 12 months) - Bus concessions, providing free trips to support local residents to use the new cross-river bus services which will run through the tunnel (Route 108, 129 and SL4)

  • Free DLR journeys (at least 12 months)- Free journeys on the DLR by refunding trips directly between the following station pairs:

    • Cutty Sark - Island Gardens
    • Woolwich Arsenal - King George V

  • Additional river crossings in east London - This is part of the longer-term plan in east London to improve river crossings. Along with the Silvertown Tunnel, work to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead is progressing. The ferry crossing from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf is also being improved, with new vessels being introduced soon

The green and fair package as set out above does not form part of this consultation.


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The Silvertown tunnel will open in 2025 and will help reduce congestion and deliver faster, more reliable journeys in east London, including new public transport connections.

In preparation for the tunnel opening, we asked to hear your views about:

  • Our proposed charge levels, and
  • Our proposed discounts and exemptions for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels

The consultation period has now closed. You can find updates on the scheme in the Latest news section.


Summary

Plans for the Silvertown Tunnel were first developed in 2012. When it opens in 2025, the new tunnel will help reduce congestion and deliver faster, more reliable journeys in east London, making travel times up to 20 minutes quicker. There will also be a significant increase in bus services across the river and a new bus shuttle through the tunnel for cyclists.

To deliver the benefits of the tunnel and cover the construction costs, charges will apply on both the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels. A supporting package of discounts and concessions will also be made available to make the scheme as green and fair as possible.

The video below explains why we are building the Silvertown Tunnel and what we are asking for your feedback on.



Tackling local issues


Local residents and businesses currently face chronic congestion in the area around the Blackwall Tunnel. The Victorian-era tunnel suffers from frequent closures - more than 700 times a year – which results in large tailbacks, poor air quality and millions of hours lost due to drivers being trapped in traffic. The new tunnel linking Silvertown in east London to the Greenwich Peninsula will reduce journey times and help manage air pollution.


Delivering benefits


To deliver the benefits of the tunnel and cover the construction costs charges will apply on both the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels.

Without these charges, traffic would increase in both tunnels, drivers would continue to experience major delays and air pollution would increase.

The requirement to charge for the tunnels was confirmed in the Development Consent Order (DCO) made by the Secretary of State for Transport in 2018 (Silvertown Tunnel Order 2018).


Who will pay?


We propose:

  • There would be no charge at any time for taxis, blue badge holders, zero-emission capable and wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles registered with TfL and DVLA-registered minibuses, buses and coaches
  • Charges would apply from 06:00 to 22:00, seven days a week. The standard off-peak rate of £1.50 for cars, motorbikes and small vans would apply for the majority of the time for all vehicles registered for Auto Pay
  • To manage traffic during the busiest times, peak charges would apply. Peak charges are £1 more than standard off-peak charges for motorbikes and an extra £2.50 for cars and small vans

  • These peak charges would apply for four hours northbound in the morning (from 06:00 to 10:00) and three hours southbound in the evening (from 16:00 to 19:00), Monday to Friday


Discounts and supporting measures


To help residents and businesses, and to support people to use new public transport connections , TfL has proposed a package of discounts and concessions to make the scheme as green and fair as possible.

Discounts include:

  • A 50 per cent discount for low-income drivers living in east London
  • A £1 discount on the standard off-peak charge for small businesses and charities in the host boroughs (RB Greenwich, LB Newham and LB Tower Hamlets)

A complete list of all proposed discounts, exemptions and reimbursements can be found on the ‘Discounts & Exemptions’ tab on this website.

Our green and fair package of supporting measures include:

  • New buses - 21 zero-emission buses (at tailpipe) per hour crossing the river at peak times (15 in the Silvertown Tunnel, six in the Blackwall Tunnel) including the SL4 Superloop route

  • Free cycle bus provision (at least 12 months) - A regular cross-river cycle shuttle-bus bus service through the Silvertown Tunnel for cyclists, free for at least 12 months

  • Bus concession to support local residents (at least 12 months) - Bus concessions, providing free trips to support local residents to use the new cross-river bus services which will run through the tunnel (Route 108, 129 and SL4)

  • Free DLR journeys (at least 12 months)- Free journeys on the DLR by refunding trips directly between the following station pairs:

    • Cutty Sark - Island Gardens
    • Woolwich Arsenal - King George V

  • Additional river crossings in east London - This is part of the longer-term plan in east London to improve river crossings. Along with the Silvertown Tunnel, work to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead is progressing. The ferry crossing from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf is also being improved, with new vessels being introduced soon

The green and fair package as set out above does not form part of this consultation.


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Page last updated: 27 Nov 2024, 08:12 AM