Toll plazas

Stephen15

Why do they still exist? I dont venture out of the Pale too often or use the Port Tunnel or The Eastlink often either but I did the other day on the M1 and I notice they're still there why arent they gotten rid of and use the same system as the M50. Cheaper I would imagine and more convenient as theres no getting caught in traffic while going under the barriers. If the technology is there and already in use why not use it?

markpb

ANPR based tolling like the one on M50 Westlink is very expensive. The cameras are expensive, the software is expensive, a team of people are needed to resolve issues that the camera coudn't handle, a team of people (and outside legal firm) are needed to chase the people who don't pay and there's countless advertising reminding people to pay.

I'm a big fan of it but I can't see it being extended to other motorways any time soon, they just don't have the volume. It was put onto the M50 to solve a very specific problem.

The firm in 2007 — then known as BetEireFlow — was awarded the initial eight-year contract of €113m by the NRA and the €155m estimate for the new contract is based on the value of the original eight-year contract.

The new contract may be significantly more than the estimated €155m, as the NRA in its tender has left the door open for the introduction of new tolls across its road network.

Irish Examiner

prinzeugen

Stephen15 wrote: »

Why do they still exist? I dont venture out of the Pale too often or use the Port Tunnel or The Eastlink often either but I did the other day on the M1 and I notice they're still there why arent they gotten rid of and use the same system as the M50. Cheaper I would imagine and more convenient as theres no getting caught in traffic while going under the barriers. If the technology is there and already in use why not use it?

Because most people wont have tags.

Take the port tunnel for example. When I worked on the tolls, we had to taking sterling as most vehicles (non-LGV/HGV/Busses) off the ferry did not have Euros to pay and more than one visiting tourist mistook us for border control and handed over passports!

I dont know what it is like now but when I was there 90% of traffic was going to/from the port and the busiest times were always around ferry departure/arrival times not rush hour.

If there was no toll, how would you charge vehicles from the UK or further afield?

368100

prinzeugen wrote: »

Because most people wont have tags.

Take the port tunnel for example. When I worked on the tolls, we had to taking sterling as most vehicles (non-LGV/HGV/Busses) off the ferry did not have Euros to pay and more than one visiting tourist mistook us for border control and handed over passports!

I dont know what it is like now but when I was there 90% of traffic was going to/from the port and the busiest times were always around ferry departure/arrival times not rush hour.

If there was no toll, how would you charge vehicles from the UK or further afield?

How are NI drivers charged for M50? Or are they?

markpb

368100 wrote: »

How are NI drivers charged for M50? Or are they?

If they don't pay voluntarily (and plenty do), I believe that eFlow contact a debt collection agency in the UK. They purchase thregistered owners details from DVLA and send the owner a bill and threat of legal action. I'm not sure if that's ever followed up or if they properly persue it in a UK court.

Edit: This article explains it a little better.

L1011

Plenty of NI cars with tags at this stage. Regular users will have been chased and its easier/cheaper to get the tag. Particularly as its likely they'lll do the M1 on the way.

prinzeugen

368100 wrote: »

How are NI drivers charged for M50? Or are they?

I only worked at the port tunnel but did training at the EastLink. Dont know how the M50 works.

I dont know how it is done now in the port tunnel, but all cars paid. Irish we could IOU, foreign cars could pay by card or take sterling. If anyone refused to pay we held them and got the Garda.

But back to the OP. You need at least one manned booth because there will always be people that dont have a tag.

Like there will always be people on Dublin Bus that will use cash. The 140 was a laugh when a teacher tried to pay the students fare with a note..

wordofwarning

The toll plaza was removed on the M50, as it was causing congestion. It is very rare to get congestion on most motorways. Other than the M50 or the Eastlink. I don't think I have waited more than a min or two at a toll plaza.

I know plenty of business owners who still have workers instead of automation. For a lot of industries, wages are cheaper than machines. I imagine paying someone a low wage as a toll operator is cheaper than a ANPR system

markpb

prinzeugen wrote: »

But back to the OP. You need at least one manned booth because there will always be people that dont have a tag.

The M50 is completely unmanned and tags are optional. You can pay cash in any payzone store, pay by card online or charge it to a tag.