Discussion
In 1991, the Government decided the M6 toll would be a privately funded venture.
Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) is a private company with the government concession to design, build and run the 27 miles of the new M6 Toll until 2054.
So it's not a private road, just not funded from the public purse; normal rules apply.
Streaky
Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) is a private company with the government concession to design, build and run the 27 miles of the new M6 Toll until 2054.
So it's not a private road, just not funded from the public purse; normal rules apply.
Streaky
But with a build cost of £900 million.
Income from tolls is ~£25 million, out of which has to come maintenance, operational costs all before the capital has to be financed.
Doesn't make much economic sense to me.
Of course what will happen is that HMG will have to bail the thing out using our real money. That will be justified by balancing the books using the theoretical money lost by the economy due to drivers sitting in jams on the M6 free.
Only used once to check it out. Sorry Roadrage, mea culpa
Distinctly underwhelmed, won't be using it again.
Income from tolls is ~£25 million, out of which has to come maintenance, operational costs all before the capital has to be financed.
Doesn't make much economic sense to me.
Of course what will happen is that HMG will have to bail the thing out using our real money. That will be justified by balancing the books using the theoretical money lost by the economy due to drivers sitting in jams on the M6 free.
Only used once to check it out. Sorry Roadrage, mea culpa
Distinctly underwhelmed, won't be using it again.
I used it last week and was very impressed.
It knocked a full 70 Miles off the distance from my house to Milton Keynes. Thats an hours driving time.
It was empty when I used it, probably because it was 3 in the morning, but I think it was worth every penny of the 100 it cost me to use it.
It knocked a full 70 Miles off the distance from my house to Milton Keynes. Thats an hours driving time.
It was empty when I used it, probably because it was 3 in the morning, but I think it was worth every penny of the 100 it cost me to use it.
I was travelling south on the M6 on Wednesday evening at about 19:30hrs and the matrix signs said "Congestion M6 J10-J6". I ignored this obvious plea for everyone to use the toll road and pressed on using the "old" M6. I never dropped below 70 all the way to the M42 junction and beyond! Are they deliberately lying to make gullible people to use the toll road? 
well thats what I couldn't understand.
But last year I clocked the the Journey at 450 miles on the old M6, it took me 7.5 hours. I did it last week, took me 6.5 hours, and I only clocked 385miles. So either the Odometer on the Focus is buggered, and I was speeding all the way down, or the Journey is now shorter and the only part of the Road that has changed is the M6 toll.
I do the journey quite often so I will clock it using the Toll and the Old roads and see what the difference really is.
But last year I clocked the the Journey at 450 miles on the old M6, it took me 7.5 hours. I did it last week, took me 6.5 hours, and I only clocked 385miles. So either the Odometer on the Focus is buggered, and I was speeding all the way down, or the Journey is now shorter and the only part of the Road that has changed is the M6 toll.
I do the journey quite often so I will clock it using the Toll and the Old roads and see what the difference really is.
They should go toll roads euro style. Parallel to major roads. On the Plymouth Dakar rally my mate and I drove a 3L Capri (£100) to gibratar in about 20 hours. That was from Roscoff. At one point we had brake failure going 120mph just before a toll and actually went straight through the booth fully locked up!!!! You should have seen the womans face :0
I suppose that the federal future of Europe will leave us with our silly laws and draconian measures. I vote for a superstate but not a federal agglomerate.
That reminds me, I have to rig up my swing number plate assembly (mk1 mini) to a solenoid so that I may write "F£££ YOU" underneath which will be revealed by pressing a button!!
stu
stu
I suppose that the federal future of Europe will leave us with our silly laws and draconian measures. I vote for a superstate but not a federal agglomerate.
That reminds me, I have to rig up my swing number plate assembly (mk1 mini) to a solenoid so that I may write "F£££ YOU" underneath which will be revealed by pressing a button!!
stu
stu
If it means less congestion, shorter journey times, and a higher average speed I'm all for a UK Toll.
The M6, Al, M1 and A14 are absolute nightmares, a Toll Road next to each one would work wonders. We need a Full UK Toll Setup. New roads from London to Bristol, Bristol to Glasgow Via the M6 Toll, and past Manchester, liverpool etc, Glasgow to Edinburgh because the M8 is murder, anyone here about the Traffic Jam in Glasgow yesterday after an accident? Well I got the tail end on my way back from work. And the 4 lane section that runs by Cale Uni is always clogged. Edinburgh to London Following the Current AlM route. M1, A14, M5 (bristol to Exeter) and A9 should also be considered.
I don't think an M25 toll would work, not enough room, and eventually the congestion on the normal road would spill over to the Toll road effectively rendering it useless.
The M6, Al, M1 and A14 are absolute nightmares, a Toll Road next to each one would work wonders. We need a Full UK Toll Setup. New roads from London to Bristol, Bristol to Glasgow Via the M6 Toll, and past Manchester, liverpool etc, Glasgow to Edinburgh because the M8 is murder, anyone here about the Traffic Jam in Glasgow yesterday after an accident? Well I got the tail end on my way back from work. And the 4 lane section that runs by Cale Uni is always clogged. Edinburgh to London Following the Current AlM route. M1, A14, M5 (bristol to Exeter) and A9 should also be considered.
I don't think an M25 toll would work, not enough room, and eventually the congestion on the normal road would spill over to the Toll road effectively rendering it useless.
I read a great story somewhere once. It was along these lines....
Imagine you're Mr Prescott. Someone has his hands round your neck. You can't breathe -- you have congestion of the airways and you will choke to death.
Now imagine that person backs off a bit and you get back 50% of your airways. You can breathe a bit but you're still choked and may choke to death.
The roads currently are like that. Anti-road people say that new roads just generate congestion. In fact, the problem is that the British "body" is so choked that any additional capacity is used up simply because we actually need so much more.
So yes, any toll road will eventually get fully used simply because we're still being choked. What percentage of 100% capacity are we at? I don't know, but I could imagine doubling of motorway capacity would be a good start. It would be nice to be able to breathe properly again!
Imagine you're Mr Prescott. Someone has his hands round your neck. You can't breathe -- you have congestion of the airways and you will choke to death.
Now imagine that person backs off a bit and you get back 50% of your airways. You can breathe a bit but you're still choked and may choke to death.
The roads currently are like that. Anti-road people say that new roads just generate congestion. In fact, the problem is that the British "body" is so choked that any additional capacity is used up simply because we actually need so much more.
So yes, any toll road will eventually get fully used simply because we're still being choked. What percentage of 100% capacity are we at? I don't know, but I could imagine doubling of motorway capacity would be a good start. It would be nice to be able to breathe properly again!
Personally, I believe the only way to remove motorway congestion is to put in 'emergency sections' section of motorway that intersect with each other that allow traffic to be routed around an accident/jam. Much like the channel tunnel where trains can be moved between tunnels, and back again to avoid works etc. That way traffic will never stop moving. Well obviously it will because the government spend so little money on the road network that they will just keep these extra bits open permanantly so they will get caught in the jam as well.
The M6 toll road is the guinea pig for total Motorway tolling in this country.
Whilst in the short-term some may see it as a benefit because its cheap off-peak and free of traffic, it certainly isn't going to remain that way.
In the long term the price will rise, the traffic and congestion will rise and tolling with spread to other motorways until you have to pay everywhere.
Will the number of roads increase as a result? No.
Will the road quality improve? No.
What will happen is that the congestion/crap roads situation will return to what it is now, albeit you will be paying another wad on top of that which you pay now.
Whilst in the short-term some may see it as a benefit because its cheap off-peak and free of traffic, it certainly isn't going to remain that way.
In the long term the price will rise, the traffic and congestion will rise and tolling with spread to other motorways until you have to pay everywhere.
Will the number of roads increase as a result? No.
Will the road quality improve? No.
What will happen is that the congestion/crap roads situation will return to what it is now, albeit you will be paying another wad on top of that which you pay now.
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