The new price list for the only privately financed British motorway (M6 Toll) foresees significant toll increases.
The new rates will take effect on M6 Toll on July 12th. Tariffs during peak hours will increase by 30 pence for cars and 50 pence for vans and trucks. From this Friday, therefore, drivers of vans between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. will have to pay £11.8, truckers £12 and drivers of passenger cars £6.7 on the M6 Toll.
The motorway manager, Midland Expressway Limited (MEL), will also raise rates during off-peak hours, i.e. between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Then truckers will have to pay £11.90, drivers of delivery vans £11.6 and a drive in a passenger car will cost £6.6.
The night rate in turn – between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. will be £4.2 per passenger car, £9 per delivery van and £9.10 per truck.
The 45.5 km long motorway from Cannock, via Staffordshire Coleshill to Warwickshire, was opened in 2003 to reduce congestion on the M6 around Birmingham. Approximately 50,000 vehicles use the road daily. Regular users can expect a 35% discount.
British carriers criticise the increases
“Any increase in tolls is not welcome by carriers who are under pressure to cope with environmental zones and low margins,” said Sam Lengyel, spokesperson for RHA’s transport union, in a statement for The Guardian.
Lengyel stresses that due to the high costs and low margins, many carriers are no longer using the M6 Toll.
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