The decision was made by the North East Joint Transport Committee Tyne and Wear back in November 2022, however, the implementation of the new charges was postponed until May due to the already high cost of living.
This toll increase will affect all drivers using the tunnel, with the cost for cars rising from £1.90 to £2.20 and for HGVs, it will increase from £3.90 to £4.40.
| Vehicle type | Cost per passage now | Cost per passage from May |
| Cars, vans and buses less than 3.5 tonnes |
£1.90
|
£2.20 |
| LGVs, vans and buses over 3.5 tonnes |
£3.90
|
£4.40 |
The tunnel operator, TT2, has stated that the toll increase is necessary to pay back the debt incurred by building the second tunnel, and to cover the rising operating costs of the tunnel, with electricity bills alone rising by £1m.
HGV drivers, in particular, need to be aware of the toll increase, as it will impact their daily operations and increase their operating costs. It is essential to plan ahead and factor in the increased cost of using the Tyne Tunnel in their budget.
The charges will come into effect from next week, on Monday, 1 May 2023.
Failure to pay the new toll charges could result in penalties, fines or other legal consequences.
Photo credits @ David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.