UK drivers warned over 'avoiding' road instead of having to follow new rule
A substantial number of drivers are shunning the recently launched Silvertown Tunnel - opting to boycott the crossing by refusing to stump up for its contentious toll fees. The route was free but now drivers will be charged up to £4 per journey. Statistics published by Transport for London (TfL) exposed the escalating problem, showing that roughly 13 per cent of motorists are deliberately swerving the crossing charge.
Instead of paying the toll, numerous drivers have switched to the Woolwich Ferry as their preferred option - a change that has triggered a dramatic spike in ferry numbers since the tunnel's launch. During weekdays alone, the ferry has witnessed an extra 1,278 cars each day, marking a 36 per cent jump in traffic.
The effect has proved even more striking at weekends, with daily numbers rocketing by 1,538 vehicles, amounting to a whopping 58 per cent surge, reports Birmingham Live.
The figures highlight growing public defiance against the tunnel fees, as motorists hunt for cost-free alternatives despite extended queuing times and possible hold-ups.
The Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels three-month monitoring report stated: "We are reviewing how to manage potential longer-term increases, for example, with improved real-time information. We expect travel patterns to settle, but will continue to closely monitor the situation."
Opened on April 7, 2025, the Silvertown Tunnel is a new road tunnel in East London that runs beneath the River Thames, connecting Silvertown with Greenwich Peninsula to ease pressure on the Blackwall Tunnel.
The purpose was to manage traffic and generate revenue for improvements related to the tunnel. However, it was met with criticism from drivers, forcing them to find alternative routes to avoid the fees, Highway News explained.
The Mayor of London, Labour Party politician Sadiq Khan, said: "The new data TfL has published today clearly demonstrates the impact the new Silvertown Tunnel is having. It's a big win for London."
"Since it opened in April, we have seen congestion significantly reduced at the Blackwall Tunnel, ensuring more Londoners get to their destination on time. The discounts and concessions we have put in place have also helped to encourage public transport uptake, boosting the numbers of journeys being made on the three cross-river zero emission bus routes by 160 per cent."
Alex Williams, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at TfL, added: "We are fully committed to monitoring the impact of the tunnels, including how it impacts other river crossings and traffic along major and local roads in London."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Pretty town on the end of Underground route has best of both worlds
The town offers a bit of everything to those who still want to live within easy reach of the capital Buckinghamshire is a popular choice for commuters, with many of its towns serving as homes to those who travel into London for work. The rise of remote working led to a significant migration away from the capital. Despite its name, the London Underground extends well beyond the city limits, serving numerous towns outside London. One such Tube stop brings both tourists and commuters to the charming town of Amersham. It's no surprise that the town, popular with both groups, is frequently recognised as one of the best places to live in the country. A brief tour around the town makes it easy to understand why. But a deeper exploration reveals even more reasons. Nestled in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, Amersham is divided into the Old Town and Amersham-on-the-Hill. The Old Town boasts buildings that are 700 years old and, unsurprisingly, a rich history. Expect to see quaint cottages and cobbled streets. It resembles a typical English village, complete with a 13th-century church and an abundance of pubs. Old Amersham also offers boutiques, spas, historical sites and beautiful areas for walks and exploration. Meanwhile, Amersham-on-the-Hill is known for its modernity, featuring a lively high street and the Tube station. While it may not be as picturesque, residents still enjoy tree-lined streets. Property guru Phil Spencer of Move IQ dubbed Amersham one of the top commuter towns for London. However, this charming town doesn't come cheap. The average property in Amersham will set you back £750,000 - making some parts of London seem like a bargain. But the ease of travel from London to Amersham makes it an ideal commuter spot for those Londoners seeking respite from the capital's hustle and bustle. Amersham Underground station falls under Zone 9 on the network. There are 18 stops between Amersham and King's Cross, with the Metropolitan Line terminating at Aldgate. A 55-minute journey on the Metropolitan line will whisk you from Amersham to King's Cross. The service operates twice an hour, with the first train from Amersham to London departing at 5.30am and the last return leaving around midnight. And if you've had your fill of the Tube, you can opt to catch a train to Marylebone which takes a mere 32 minutes. For those driving to Amersham, the M40 will get you there in just an hour.
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
All trains delayed at Britain's busiest train station TODAY with lines shut for major works – is your route impacted?
Read on to find out if your route is impacted OFF TRACK All trains delayed at Britain's busiest train station TODAY with lines shut for major works – is your route impacted? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALL trains will be delayed at Britain's busiest train station today. Passengers have been urged to check their journey ahead as planned engineering works will take place tonight. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 All trains will be running up to 15 minutes late Credit: Alamy Trains to and from Liverpool Street Station, which serves 94.5million passengers a year, will be running up to 15 minutes late today. Commuters travelling before 9.40am or after 23.05pm will need to plan accordingly. Some lines will be rescheduled to operate 15 minutes earlier or later than usual. All Greater Anglia services have been affected as major work is taking place between Shenfield and Liverpool Street Station. Liverpool Street Station revamp It comes as Liverpool Street Station is set to receive a stunning multimillion-pound revamp - which will include a grand terminal and outside gardens. The groundbreaking plans for the new upgrade will make the station future-proofed and ready to accommodate over 200 million people for the decades ahead, according to Network Rail. Their application to give the iconic station a colossal transformation has recently been approved by City of London. The new vision will see the station become more spacious, better connected between its different lines, and much more accessible. Chief Executive of Network Rail, Sir Andrew Haines, said: 'The station proposed in this application is absolutely what London needs. "An accessible, inclusive, world-class multi-modal transport gateway to the heart of London - designed to serve the City, all Londoners, and everyone who travels through it." Picturesque English town is getting new £27m train line for first time in 60 years – & will cut journey times by an hour The historic station is in much need of an upgrade, as since the last major renovation, its passenger numbers have tripled. Liverpool Street station opened i n 1875 and ever since it has grown in parallel with London's iconic Square mile. More on rail An English train station is due to shut for two years ahead of major £11.5 million revamp. Another major station is scheduled to close for a month while upgrades take place. Plus, London commuters were issued a travel warning follow significant delays this week. And a unique UK train station dating back 90 years will also shut for the entire summer during a major revamp. A huge new £166 million railway station is set to transform a market town with first mainline trains in 50 years.
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
UK households with driveways 'might have to install new device' by 2030
A warning has been issued over a new device that must be installed at homes across the UK by 2030 - and it could affect motorists and drivers who have electric vehicles UK households with driveways have been alerted to the possibility of needing to install a new device by 2030, as warnings are issued to electric vehicle (EV) owners about potentially obsolete technology. Simpson and Partners, an eco-friendly charger manufacturer, is advising motorists and road users to consider the lifespan of their home EV charging points. The firm predicts that over 100,000 charging units will be discarded by 2030. Mandy Simpson, co-founder of the company, issued a stark warning to EV owners across the nation: "It's time consumers knew the truth about charger lifespans - and some won't last as long as the electric cars they charge. It comes after drivers told they risk £1,000 charge if they don't 'take photo' on holiday "Building the electric vehicle infrastructure is crucial to encourage greater electric vehicle uptake, but not if the chargers can't be updated. An SandP charger will not end up in landfill, they are engineered and designed to last. "The majority of chargers bought today are sealed units that can't be updated - they have to be thrown out and replaced as new technology arrives." David Simpson, co-founder and COO, expressed his excitement about their new chargers being fully accredited with the Intelligent Octopus GO energy tariff, reports Birmingham Live. He said: "We are very excited that our new chargers are fully accredited with the Intelligent Octopus GO energy tariff, which makes light work of charging an EV when prices are the most competitive. "It opens up mass-market smart charging that's inclusive, effective, and ready for whatever car you drive. Additionally with our vehicle to grid capability, customers will in the future have the opportunity to earn cash when sending energy back to the grid. "A huge thanks to the Kraken and Octopus teams for working together with us to deliver the benefits of the Intelligent Octopus Go to our loyal customers." Mandy continued: "We refuse to design, engineer and manufacture products that just end up in landfill. It really should not be happening in our journey to a more sustainable world."
