Latest news with #NSWMotorways
ABC News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- ABC News
Toll operators apologise and promise full refunds to Canberrans charged for trips never taken
A number of Canberra drivers will be refunded after toll operators charged them for trips made by other motorists. NSW Motorways (Etoll) and Transurban (Linkt) have apologised to affected motorists after the toll operators received complaints. Transport Minister Chris Steel had also written to the toll operators asking for quick refunds to affected Canberrans. The operators blamed the bungled charges on duplicate cross-border number plates "The issue has arisen due to the increased prevalence of NSW specialty license plates beginning with the letter Y," a spokesperson for NSW Motorways and Transurban said in a statement. Most ACT licence plates begin with a Y after a 1968 decision by the now defunct Australian Transport Advisory Council. "This overlap has led in some instances to misidentifications in tolling systems where a vehicle with a duplicate plate travels on a NSW toll road," the spokesperson explained. The operators said they believed the issue was not widespread. They have described a scenario in which a NSW driver might have a specialty number plate beginning with a Y but no e-tag. The incorrect charge would then arise if a Canberra driver with the same registration did have an e-tag, leading to that account being wrongly charged. The ABC has spoken to a number of affected Canberrans who said they initially found it very difficult to deal with toll operator Linkt. The toll operators have promised to work with ACT authorities to identify the duplicate registrations and add them to a manual watch list. They have also said they will establish a hotline for those affected but are yet to provide those details.
Time Out
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time Out
A toll reform is set to create a fairer road network – here's what that means for Sydney's drivers
When the NSW Government announced the $60 toll cap back in January 2024, they explained that they were on a mission to make Sydney's road network fairer for the city's motorists, especially those based in Sydney's west, where toll roads are often unavoidable. Now, the government has announced the establishment of 'NSW Motorways': a publicly owned entity dedicated to 'driving towards a fairer toll road network' by advancing toll reform and advocating for motorists. The establishment of NSW Motorways comes as a recommendation from the Independent Toll Review, a major examination of the NSW road network conducted by Professor Allan Fels and Dr David Cousins. Expected to be fully operational by the end of 2025, NSW Motorways will regulate toll prices across the city, set standards for toll operators and advise the government on issues impacting motorists. The new government body is also set to take ownership of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel (where tolls recently rose), mange the Western Sydney Harbour Tunnel when it opens and operate a dedicated 'Customer Advocate' who will be responsible for making the road system in Sydney fairer for drivers. .
