More motorist milking
Discussion
Reports that when the new M6 Toll Motorway opens the alternative free route will be subject to severe delays through roadworks expected to last six up to months.
Is it any coincidence that the operators have an agreement to raise the two pound fee to three pounds after 10 million vehicles have used the 'Tollway' - which the expect to take ... WAIT FOR IT ... six months(!)?
Cynical? Moi?
Streaky
Is it any coincidence that the operators have an agreement to raise the two pound fee to three pounds after 10 million vehicles have used the 'Tollway' - which the expect to take ... WAIT FOR IT ... six months(!)?
Cynical? Moi?
Streaky
streaky said:
Reports that when the new M6 Toll Motorway opens the alternative free route will be subject to severe delays through roadworks expected to last six up to months.
Is it any coincidence that the operators have an agreement to raise the two pound fee to three pounds after 10 million vehicles have used the 'Tollway' - which the expect to take ... WAIT FOR IT ... six months(!)?
Cynical? Moi?
Streaky
Whats the deal with Toll roads? What are you paying for? is it a better road surface than normal? will there be a guaranteed average speed? How do they justify Toll roads when they aleady charge us Road tax?
Hedders said:Allegedly a better road surface! According to their website (www.m6toll.co.uk/), "MEL hopes that traffic speed will remain steady and consistent, avoiding a driver's urge to speed between congestion in order to make up for lost time. As with other UK motorways, the national speed limit will apply ..." MEL managing director Tom Fanning commented: "The M6Toll is a solution to one of the worst problems of congestion faced by drivers in the UK." - ie. the M6 (that we paid for!) - Streaky
streaky said:
Reports that when the new M6 Toll Motorway opens the alternative free route will be subject to severe delays through roadworks expected to last six up to months.
Is it any coincidence that the operators have an agreement to raise the two pound fee to three pounds after 10 million vehicles have used the 'Tollway' - which the expect to take ... WAIT FOR IT ... six months(!)?
Cynical? Moi?
Streaky
Whats the deal with Toll roads? What are you paying for? is it a better road surface than normal? will there be a guaranteed average speed? How do they justify Toll roads when they aleady charge us Road tax?
>> Edited by streaky on Wednesday 19th November 20:16
streaky said:
Allegedly a better road surface! According to their website (<a href="http://www.m6toll.co.uk/"><a href="http://www.m6toll.co.uk/">www.m6toll.co.uk/</a></a>, "MEL hopes that traffic speed will remain steady and consistent, avoiding a driver's urge to speed between congestion in order to make up for lost time. As with other UK motorways, the national speed limit will apply ..." MEL managing director Tom Fanning commented: "The M6Toll is a solution to one of the worst problems of congestion faced by drivers in the UK." - ie. the M6 (that we paid for!) - Streaky
>> Edited by streaky on Wednesday 19th November 20:16
So, basically they are saying that the traffic flow will be better, why will it be better? will it be better because they can hold us up at toll booths instead, and stagger our journeys for us?
If thats the case, they don't need to charge us, just have the gates!
>> Edited by Hedders on Wednesday 19th November 20:22
We don't pay enough to the Government for it to be able to afford to build us the roads we need.
It therefore gets a road for free by getting someone else to build it, who then charges us to drive on it. Very neat.
There will be less congestion (for a while at least) because the traffic will be balanced between two roads. And the M6 toll feeds into the M42 -- itself not known for being quiet. This will therefore demonstrate that the congestion simply moved, justifying the decision not to build any more roads and to implement road pricing instead.
All in all, the Government gets a road built for free, which then proves that roadbuilding doesn't solve congestion. A brilliant plan.
It therefore gets a road for free by getting someone else to build it, who then charges us to drive on it. Very neat. There will be less congestion (for a while at least) because the traffic will be balanced between two roads. And the M6 toll feeds into the M42 -- itself not known for being quiet. This will therefore demonstrate that the congestion simply moved, justifying the decision not to build any more roads and to implement road pricing instead.
All in all, the Government gets a road built for free, which then proves that roadbuilding doesn't solve congestion. A brilliant plan.
...and I thought that we all paid for motorways as they were a quicker way to get from A2B. From the billions of pounds raised in fuel tax to pay for the roads, we're then not allowed to use them without paying extra, people will divert to minor roads(probly leading to more pollution and probly more deaths in built up areas).
The people that can afford to pay it will without even noticing it, as for the average motorist, they'll probably take the alternative route.
Utter crap.
The people that can afford to pay it will without even noticing it, as for the average motorist, they'll probably take the alternative route.
Utter crap.
v8 westy said:It is not a private road, it is a privately-funded road ... which is different (?) - you explain it, I can't!
as it is effectively, a private road, will it be subject to speed limits? who is going to pay for policing it?
Interesting quote from an undated Daily Telegraph article found online, referring to the M6Toll, "On the 27-mile pay-as-you-go motorway, which runs north of the existing M6, average speeds of around 70mph are confidently predicted ..."
Note that ... "average speeds"!
If I remember my school maths correctly (12 pence to the shilling, 20 shillings to the pound), to achieve 'average speeds' of around 70mph, at least one vehicle will have to travel at a speed faster than 70.
deltaf ... you have already claimed that honour
Streaky
Streaky, given that you live in Surrey, why are you so bothered? I'm assuming that perhaps you have cause to commute up here from time to time.
Well, the M6 is the most congested road in the UK - FACT. It makes the M25 look like a quiet country lane at the best of times, particularly between J4 - J9 during rush hour. Twenty mile traffic jams are the norm, if you want to go North on a Friday, then you have my sympathy.
The toll road will undoubtedly take some of the congestion away, and for that I am grateful. I have to travel to our Branch in Manchest-oh every quarter so I fully intend to use the road.
Think of it as the Dartford Bridge/Tunnel of the Midlands - would you use Blackwall on principle?
I think not.
Well, the M6 is the most congested road in the UK - FACT. It makes the M25 look like a quiet country lane at the best of times, particularly between J4 - J9 during rush hour. Twenty mile traffic jams are the norm, if you want to go North on a Friday, then you have my sympathy.
The toll road will undoubtedly take some of the congestion away, and for that I am grateful. I have to travel to our Branch in Manchest-oh every quarter so I fully intend to use the road.
Think of it as the Dartford Bridge/Tunnel of the Midlands - would you use Blackwall on principle?
I think not.
The M6 is an over-loaded, crumbling mess.... Last Tuesday saw part of the carriageway COLLAPSE at Spaghetti Junction, causing stationary traffic, at rush-hour, stretching back about 20 miles ....... and the M5/M6 interchange is a complet joke at anytime other than 3 in the morning ...
The new relief road will make the situation better, but I have to say that I do object strenuously to having to pay for it - the Government (of whichever colour) fleeces enough cash out of us to pay for this over and over and over and over. It'll be an added cost to the whole economy, given the amount of freight that comes from/passes through this area. They've priced it quite cheaply, to encourage use (£3 to do 30-odd miles), but watch the price rise after they've got their cash back.
Oh, and one other thing - being privately funded, its actually coming in on price and on time - one thing the Government could NEVER do, so thank god for small mercies!
The new relief road will make the situation better, but I have to say that I do object strenuously to having to pay for it - the Government (of whichever colour) fleeces enough cash out of us to pay for this over and over and over and over. It'll be an added cost to the whole economy, given the amount of freight that comes from/passes through this area. They've priced it quite cheaply, to encourage use (£3 to do 30-odd miles), but watch the price rise after they've got their cash back.
Oh, and one other thing - being privately funded, its actually coming in on price and on time - one thing the Government could NEVER do, so thank god for small mercies!
Dave, all good points but at least the toll money is actually going to pay for the road you are driving on. If only the same could be said for the road fund licence and the amount we pay on petrol.
The Dartford bridge I mentioned in my earlier post wasn't such a good analogy, in hindsight. I recall they actually "paid" for it some months ago, yet you still pay for the pleasure of using it - bastards.
Anything that takes traffic off the M6 is GOOD in my opinion. If it has a knock on effect of taking freight off the road then so much the better.
The Dartford bridge I mentioned in my earlier post wasn't such a good analogy, in hindsight. I recall they actually "paid" for it some months ago, yet you still pay for the pleasure of using it - bastards.
Anything that takes traffic off the M6 is GOOD in my opinion. If it has a knock on effect of taking freight off the road then so much the better.
GregE240 said:I do travel back up to Cheshire from time-to-time to visit relatives. I have never used the Blackwall Tunnel as I never travel to those parts, so am unable to comment. I do hear it mentioned on the travel reports most mornings as being 'congested' - S
Streaky, given that you live in Surrey, why are you so bothered? I'm assuming that perhaps you have cause to commute up here from time to time.
Well, the M6 is the most congested road in the UK - FACT. It makes the M25 look like a quiet country lane at the best of times, particularly between J4 - J9 during rush hour. Twenty mile traffic jams are the norm, if you want to go North on a Friday, then you have my sympathy.
The toll road will undoubtedly take some of the congestion away, and for that I am grateful. I have to travel to our Branch in Manchest-oh every quarter so I fully intend to use the road.
Think of it as the Dartford Bridge/Tunnel of the Midlands - would you use Blackwall on principle?
I think not.
Used to use that stretch of the M6 quite often when travelling to away matches (I'm an A50 convert), and it's hell, so I can't see the problem with the new toll stretch. Presumably it's 30 miles without any junctions?
I have no problem with toll roads if they are private schemes, it's just the prospect of paying for EXISTING roads that I find disturbing (Mr Livingstone take note).
I have no problem with toll roads if they are private schemes, it's just the prospect of paying for EXISTING roads that I find disturbing (Mr Livingstone take note).
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