M6 Tolled - England

mickmmc

I was on the M6 Tolled in England recently. I was a passenger.

The traffic volumes at rush hour mid-week were very light.

The toll for car was £5.50 stg and £11 for a coach or HGV. I understand they are increasing the prices by 40p.

The traffic jams on the M6 were miles long during my trip.

Why not reduce the toll and increase traffic volumes?

Edit: the above tolls apply Mon to Friday 6am to 11pm.

L1011

The toll road loses huge amounts and they appear to have decided that less traffic is better as it allows deferring maintenance. The highways agency can't reduce the toll

Chris_5339762

Thats basically it, the consortium are rumoured to be keeping the toll as high as possible to keep traffic levels down so they don't have to pay to resurface the entire thing before its handed back to the government in 20-odd years. They've put some serious calculations into it.

A disgrace, really.

mickmmc

The ADT for Apr-Jun '17 was 56,281 (weekdays), an increase of 4.1% compared to the same period last year. The predicted ADT back in 1991 was 74,000.

The M6 tolled was one of the first PPPs negotiated back in 1991 and clearly mistakes were made by giving the operator sole discretion with regard to setting the rate of tolls and the 50 year period of the concession.

Bummer1234

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

Thats basically it, the consortium are rumoured to be keeping the toll as high as possible to keep traffic levels down so they don't have to pay to resurface the entire thing before its handed back to the government in 20-odd years. They've put some serious calculations into it.

A disgrace, really.

Thats mad, I remember when i was driving over (to london) i forgot to turn off for it and was like "Ohh well..Ill hit the traffic in Birmingham" That was around 4.30 or so on a friday and it was heavy enough.

On the way home i was sickend i took the tolled road on the Sunday as I forgot to turn of again and paid the toll. Wasn't much traffic but im sure there wasn't much at 9am Sunday morning on either road.

ED E

L1011 wrote: »

The toll road loses huge amounts and they appear to have decided that less traffic is better as it allows deferring maintenance. The highways agency can't reduce the toll

Is there something unique about it that makes it so unprofitable?

Chris_5339762

£5.50 for a car. Way too much for the distance when there is a free (albeit congested) alternative.

L1011

ED E wrote: »

Is there something unique about it that makes it so unprofitable?

British people aren't as used to paying tolls (unless they're from South Wales or Cornwall really; there's a few toll bridges around)

Its no time saving except at rush hour as the free route is a six lane motorway, meaning there isn't even the option of forcing off-peak heavy traffic off with safety restrictions.

And they charged too much from day 1.

Marcusm

L1011 wrote: »

British people aren't as used to paying tolls (unless they're from South Wales or Cornwall really; there's a few toll bridges around)

Its no time saving except at rush hour as the free route is a six lane motorway, meaning there isn't even the option of forcing off-peak heavy traffic off with safety restrictions.

And they charged too much from day 1.

I'd say I have paid that toll 150 times and it's well worth it. It serves the purpose for which it exists; to provide a non taxpayer funded route for those who wish to avail of it.

L1011

Marcusm wrote: »

I'd say I have paid that toll 150 times and it's well worth it. It serves the purpose for which it exists; to provide a non taxpayer funded route for those who wish to avail of it.

And its losing money hand over fist and has ensured they'll never build another.

Carawaystick

Every time I went past Brum I used it. Was heavily congested on M6/42 and freeflow on the toll road

Dartford Tunnel Northbound is tolled as well, but much cheaper for Irish reg cars....