Blackwall & Silvertown Tunnels: What Drivers Need to Know

Starting April 7, 2025, you'll need to pay to drive through the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels. This applies to all vehicles, including cars, vans, and trucks.

Key Points:

* Charge Applies Both Ways: You'll be charged for each trip through the tunnels, whether you're going northbound or southbound.

* Hours of Operation: The charge will be in effect every day from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, except for Christmas Day.

* How Much Will It Cost? tfl are still finalising the exact pricing, but you can find the latest details on their website closer to the start date https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/auto-pay?intcmp=2154

* Discounts Available: Some discounts will be available. Check https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/discounts-and-exemptions?intcmp=54579 for eligibility.

* Cleaner Vehicle Discount: Please note that the 100% discount for cleaner vehicles that applies to the Congestion Charge does not apply to the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels.

* Why Are We Charging? These charges will help fund the new Silvertown Tunnel and improve traffic flow in the area.

Find out what to pay, when to pay, how to pay, Auto Pay and exemptions.

Changes to the Congestion Charge to support long term traffic reduction and a sustainable recovery

The Mayor has confirmed changes to the Congestion Charge. The primary objective of the Congestion Charge is to reduce traffic and congestion in central London. This will improve London’s air quality, reduce carbon emissions and encourage more journeys to be made by walking, cycling or public transport.

 

Since its implementation in 2003, Transport for London (TfL) has made changes to the Congestion Charge to ensure it remains effective, including changes to the charge level, days/times of operation, and discounts and exemptions. Temporary changes were introduced in June 2020 in response to the transport challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

Between 28 July and 6 October 2021, we consulted on new proposals to change the Congestion Charging scheme. A total of 9,680 responses were received including 92 from stakeholders. The Mayor wants to thank all of those who took part, the feedback received this has been very helpful in making this decision.

 

The changes will be delivered in two phases:

 

Phase 1 (from 20 December 2021)

 

• The charge level will be £15
• No charge will be applied between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day bank holiday inclusive. This means the period from Saturday 25 December 2021 to Monday 3 January 2022 (inclusive) will not be charged
• The 90 per cent residents’ discount will be re-opened for all eligible residents to register for the discount
• The delayed payment charge will be £17.50 and the deadline will be extended to three days after the day of travel
• The Auto Pay and Fleet Auto Pay discount will be removed
• The reimbursement arrangements that were introduced as part of the temporary changes will be retained or adapted to ensure that people most vulnerable to infection from epidemics and pandemics will continue to be protected. This will also facilitate essential trips made by NHS staff in times of exceptional or extraordinary circumstances including for commuting purposes
• The ability for residents to pay by App or online for multiple consecutive charging days will be removed.

 

Phase 2 (from 21 February 2022)

 

• The operating hours for the Congestion Charge will be 07:00-18:00 on weekdays and 12:00-18:00 on weekends and Bank Holidays.

 

The reason that the changes have been split into two phases is to enable the majority of the changes to be implemented as quickly as possible, while allowing sufficient time for changes in new signage and back office systems relating to the changed hours of operation.

 

If you would like to view the consultation report, you can access this on the website tfl.gov.uk/ccyourview. We have written a short summary of the consultation report which you can access on the website. The full report is also available to view.

Proposed changes to the central London Congestion Charge

We’d welcome your views on proposed changes to the Congestion Charge.

Last year, in response to the transport challenges of the pandemic and the Government’s emergency funding of Transport for London (TfL), we made temporary changes to the Congestion Charge. This included extending its charging hours until 22:00 each day and increasing the charge level to £15. We are now consulting on new proposals. The proposals include reducing the charging hours to between 07:00 and 18:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00 to 18:00 at weekends.

 

The new proposals are part of the commitment by the Mayor of London and TfL to reduce traffic and congestion in central London. This would improve London’s air quality, reduce carbon emissions and encourage more journeys to be made by walking, cycling or public transport.

 

The proposed changes are:

 

·       £15 charge level  

·       No Auto Pay or Fleet Auto Pay discount 

·       £17.50 pay next day charge, and can be paid up to three days after travel 

·       The charging hours would be Monday to Friday from 07:00 – 18:00 and Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 12:00 – 18:00  

·       No charge from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day bank holiday (inclusive) 

·       90 per cent residents’ discount, re-opened to new applicants 

·       Reimbursement arrangements for certain NHS patients, care home workers, local authority and charity workers or volunteers providing certain services during epidemics or pandemics prevalent in Greater London. The expanded NHS staff reimbursement is also proposed to continue.

 

To find out more about our proposals and to have your say please contact us:

Online: tfl.gov.uk/ccyourview

Email: ccyourview@tfl.gov.uk

Post: FREEPOST TFL HAVE YOUR SAY (no stamp required)

The consultation closes Wednesday 6 October 2021.

Once it has closed, TfL will prepare a report summarising all of the responses for the Mayor, who will decide how to proceed.

Source: New Congestion Charge proposals