Dart Charge registration now available for go live 30 Nov

[krallicious]

Magic919 said:

I'd be surprised if they show charges until at least the next day.

I'd be surprised if it actually worked at all.

Lowdrag, do share how you get on as I will be trying the crossing in January and need to know if I should bother trying to pay or not

[lowdrag]

Copy of the surprisingly comprehensive reply from the service team:-

Thank you for contacting the Highways Agency about Dart Charge, the new payment arrangements that are being introduced at the Dartford Crossing from 6am on Sunday 30th November 2014.



Non-UK users will be able to pay the crossing charge through a variety of channels, including online, by phone and by post. They will also be able to pay at many Payzone retail outlets (when in the UK) and also the option to open a Dart Charge account. You will also be able to pay at one of thousands of local shops and retail outlets across the country, via a Payzone terminal. You can locate your nearest Payzone terminal at http://www.payzone.co.uk/Store-Locator or by calling the Dart Charge Customer Service Team on 0300 300 0120.



We have published a multi-lingual brochure which is available online and is already being distributed across Europe via our campaign partners such as Eurotunnel, AA and through social media channels with hardcopies available at the Crossing, ports, truck stops and other key locations which enable us to reach Non-UK drivers. This is available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dart-ch...



Further information about the introduction of Dart Charge can be found on our website at www.gov.uk/highways/dartford, where you can also subscribe to receive notifications as updated information becomes available. Alternatively, please contact the call centre on 0300 300 0120.



Kind Regards



Dart Charge
Highways Agency | Federated House | London Road | Dorking | RH4 1SZ
Web: http://www.highways.gov.uk

Safe roads, reliable journeys, informed travellers
Highways Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Transport.


ETA Am crossing on the 26th so we'll see what happens!

[CAPP0]

Still no deduction from my account as of 0900 this morning….

[Superhoop]

Still no improvement to traffic flow going northbound into the tunnels this morning either. In fact, from what I can see, it was worse

As a result of poor lane management/selection by Le Crossing, which has left only the 4 left hand lanes open - This is leading to the majority of lorries coming over the bridge to have to come off at junction 1a and go up and around the loop over the top of the M25 to continue their journey southbound, which has the knock on affect of affecting traffic going onto the M25 northbound...

[Monkeylegend]

Too early to judge, there are bound to be a few teething problems, give it a week or so to see how it settles down. It cannot be any worse than the old system.

Logic says that once all the lanes are running properly waiting times and congestion will be reduced.

[CAPP0]

I know this rant is (a) pointless and (b) based on something which is entirely expected, but given my post above, I tried to call them. If you select the option to speak to someone, it just cuts you off dead, NU tone with no warning.

FFS, how long have they had to get this set up and working? And yet these bodies NEVER get it right on go-live day. Chances of them attempting to fine me despite having an account set up and in credit and attempting to validate my crossing with them are probably close to 100%, I imagine.

[krallicious]

CAPP0 said:

Chances of them attempting to fine me despite having an account set up and in credit and attempting to validate my crossing with them are probably close to 100%, I imagine.

At which point tell them to fk off. There is no greater satisfaction argueing with a company when you are 100% correct. The only thing it takes up is time which is regrettable.

[Conscript]

This morning, for the first time in as long as I can remember, the A2 eastbound toward Darenth Interchange was flowing nicely. Part of me did wonder if the free-flow tolling was having a knock on effect on the A2. I can but hope.

I'm waiting to see what it's like this evening. I commute from J4 back to J2 and there's rarely been a night for the past 3-4 months when the traffic hasn't be at least back to J3 because of the tolls.

[jagracer]

I heard on the radio that northbound there are only 4 booths open and you have to stop before they open. Anyone know if this is correct, if so they've narrowe it from 12 to 4 lanes how fking stupid is that

[CAPP0]

jagracer said:

I heard on the radio that northbound there are only 4 booths open and you have to stop before they open. Anyone know if this is correct, if so they've narrowe it from 12 to 4 lanes how fking stupid is that

I *think*, not certain, that 4 lanes are CLOSED, not the other way round. AIUI they are removing the northbound booths piecemeal so they close 4 lanes at a tim to do that. Southbound booths were all supposed to be removed during the closure last night?

[Gixer]

Someone posted in the thread in the Kent section that their local Essex paper said the booths on the Northbound side were going to remain a while to manage things like over height HGVs ......

[Conscript]

Gixer said:

Someone posted in the thread in the Kent section that their local Essex paper said the booths on the Northbound side were going to remain a while to manage things like over height HGVs ......

This is true. The booths need to stay in place to be able to manage traffic going into the tunnel and to stop it if necessary if there's an accident on the north bank (traffic build ups in the tunnel are not permitted). Also, until the new system to manage and turn back over height vehicles is in place, they need to stay operational.

Southbound there are obviously no such restrictions so the benefits will be seen more quickly. I think the completion of all construction work and removal of the booths is set for Spring 2015.