Dartford Crossing Toll

[Panic Button]

The Dartford crossing tolls go up on the 15th.

For a car it goes up 50% from �1 to �1.50.
How can they possibly justify this?

I thought that they were only supposed to charge until the building cost had been recouped, which I believe they were a while ago.

Is it relevant that it is run by a French company who call it Le Crossing?

Removing the tolls would dramatically reduce the constant congestion in the area, and I thought the government wanted to reduce congestion, or am I in cloud cuckoo land?

[ummmm]

Seems so Mr Button. Simply because you believed their original spiel.

[jno]

would it really reduce congestion by removing the 2 minutes or so it takes to slow down and pay? Or would it increase congestion by attracting more traffic?

[Buenchico]

I like the new charges!

If I'm using the Dartford Crossing I'm probably on my way to Ebbsfleet International, to catch the first train to Paris or Brussels, so I'll use the bridge before 6a.m. When I come back, having caught the last train back at the end of the day, it's after 10pm when I use the tunnel. So, with the new charging system, I'll travel for FREE (yippee!!!) in both directions ;-)

[Panic Button]

jno, I live on the M25, and can assure you it is not two minutes!!

Luckily I do not pay the tolls, just wave my employers tag.

[Panic Button]

Chris, I hadn't noticed they are doing away with night charges. Presumably it doesn't justify the night shift.

If they leave the barriers open there are going to be some nasty accidents as people try to shoot through at speed.

[Buenchico]

Hi PB:
Details of the new charges can be seen here:
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/imag es/Dartford.jpg

[Panic Button]

Ah, they are pushing the Dart Tag with much bigger discounts now.

It looks like a lot of it is aimed at reducing staff levels.

[Buenchico]

Hi No-Know:
If you book reasonably early (and avoid the services which are most popular with business users), you can usually get tickets for �29.50 each way. Check here:
http://www.eurostar.com/dynamic/booking.search ?VT=EB&lang=UK&country=UK

Ebbsfleet International is really easy to get to. It's only a few minutes from the Dartford toll booths. There's no problem finding a parking space. Parking costs �11.50 per day.

[mrs.chappie]

Please excuse me for going off the subject PB ......

Chris, will ya post the recipe for Pilchard Bake please?Perhaps start a new thread though, wouldn't want to upset Panic. [:o)

Ta ever so.x

[Buenchico]

Mrs C:

Your recipe now has a thread all to itself ;-)

[mrs.chappie]

Gee thanks buddy.x

[:o)

[Panic Button]

That won't help me win thread of the week now, will it!

[Panic Button]

I notice no one took my bait to enter a bit of Frog bashing!

[jno]

You're not one of the four Yorkshiremen, Panic Button? Lived in a shoebox on the M25...

http://www.phespirit.info/montypython/four_yor kshiremen.htm

I've never taken more than a couple of minutes to go through, but I've never done it at rush hour. But it shouldn't in theory take longer since all you're doing is slowing down enough to throw money in a basket. There are as many tollbooths as there are lanes, aren't there? I suspect erratic driving and accidents cause a lot of the holdups. Anyway, you didn't answer my question: are you sure dropping the charge would ease congestion rather than encouraging more traffic?

[Panic Button]

Well when the queue to get through tails back over the bridge and back as far as j30/31 (as it regularly does), it certainly takes more than two minutes.

If they demolished all the booths and allowed the traffic to flow freely, the motorway could cope with more traffic anyway. However I don't believe the level of charges actually discourages traffic, so I don't think there would be much increase.

It's just a tax, and it is being hoiked by 50% for cash paying car drivers.