M6 Toll for Sale

platypus

platypus

platypus

Caporegime
Joined
25 Jul 2003
Posts
40,488
Location
FR+UK
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35553865

It's a shame that the numbers of usage have been so low, given that its goal was to reduce congestion (I presume at least that was the main intention behind planning permission, rather than simply generate profit for its builders), but at the price per use I'm hardly surprised. Does anyone use the Toll and like it?

Personally I think all of the motorways should be tolled on a mileage used basis, (and VED scrapped) but I guess thats a different thread.
 
I use it once ever few months when I'm travelling from London to the Lake District to visit my parents. Even late at night, regardless of traffic on the non-toll stretch, I'll always use it purely for the "luxury" of a great road surface, minimal traffic and no average speed cameras!

I agree though, I wouldn't use it regularly and pay £5 odd each time.
 
I'm only in that area a couple of times a year, but when I am I always use it.

For the ~£5 or so, I wouldn't use it on a regular basis unless the cost was being covered elsewhere.
 
I use it, but work pays. I love the road, it does save me a fair bit of time so well worth it.
 
It looses money because people actively avoid it. Why should I pay a toll when I'm already paying taxes to use the roads, especially at that price :/
 
Last edited:
I really don't understand the logic of keeping prices high to keep profit up - lower costs and more people would use it and in the end more profit.

It's so high for such a short piece of motorway that I rarely use it even when I have the opportunity. It's also full of idiots speeding and on two occasions I have paid for the M6 Toll where there has been a crash and so traffic has been slower than the M6!
 
I'm hoping the goverment will buy it but not for £2billion (cost to build was £900m).

Drive around it everyday even though every sign seems to try to get people to accidently go on it. Thing is all the HGV's actively avoid it which causes mayhem on the roads running alongside plus additional wear and tear.
 
We use it every time we need to get past Brum - however it is only occasional - maybe 10 journeys a year. If you are using it everyday and paying the fee yourself (as opposed to on expenses) then you need to move home !

Is it just me, or is Norton Canes services always incredibly busy ? You see little traffic on the Toll but then have a "where the heck did all these people come from" moment whenever we step inside.
 
Pretty much use it like everyone else here, just on the odd occasion I'm driving past (4-5 times year) but I'd never use it I was local.

The Toll that annoys me the most is the Dartford toll @ £2.50 for 550m of road and the diversion to avoid the toll adds 22 sodding miles extra!!!!
 
Nasher said:
Why should I pay a toll when I'm already paying taxes to use the roads, especially at that price :/
Click to expand...
At one stage, it was because the Toll one was so well maintained from the money it brought in, whereas you'd risk spinal injury from the bumps and potholes in the crappy free one... at least, that's what the Mrs used as her excuse.
 
ianh said:
The Toll that annoys me the most is the Dartford toll @ £2.50 for 550m of road and the diversion to avoid the toll adds 22 sodding miles extra!!!!
Click to expand...

Blimey has it gone up again recently? I thought it had just gone up to £2!

Whats even more insulting about that was for around a year, we didn't pay for it going back and forth, because the system didn't recognise French number plates. So the foreign cars were all using it at British car drivers expense! And just to allay the "oi" fears, we did our level best to try paying the charge in advance, went round and round in circles and the system simply wouldn't accept the reg, on the web or by phone.
 
Last edited:
At that valuation and based on their usage figures, it would take whoever buys its 29 years to recoup the outlay and that's without taking into account any interest accrued for lending or operational costs.
 
Needs more dynamic pricing (i.e. as mentioned lower price for trucking at certain times of day) and either a lower price or more incentives to use it - always thought it a bit silly we don't have more roads like that which have a higher speed limit for one of the lanes.
 
I used it when I went to Wales last. It was worth it just for the standing acceleration away from the booths with about 20 yards of free space on either side. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom