New charges for Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels to be agreed next week

Transport for London (TfL) has set out its recommendation for the package of discounts, exemptions and charges for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels, ahead of the new Silvertown Tunnel opening in spring 2025.

The tunnel charges, which will be decided by the TfL Board on December 4, are required as part of the development consent for the new tunnel and were first proposed in 2012. 

TfL published its planned charging regime in July. It proposed that a user charge be introduced for those using the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels between 6am and 10pm, seven days a week. 

An off-peak rate of £1.50 for cars, motorcycles and small vans would apply for vehicles registered for TfL AutoPay. 

To manage traffic during the busiest times, peak charges would apply, set at £1 more than standard off-peak charges for motorcycles and an extra £2.50 for cars and small vans. 

These would apply for four hours northbound in the morning (from 6am to 10pm) and three hours southbound in the evening (from 4pm to 7pm), Monday to Friday, or for anyone not using TfL AutoPay.

A major marketing campaign encouraging drivers to sign up to TfL AutoPay will launch in the new year. 

More than 1.4 million vehicles are already registered for TfL AutoPay for road user charges across London and these would all be automatically registered for the new charges when they begin.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Londoners face chronic traffic congestion on the approaches to the Blackwall Tunnel, which was never designed for the levels of traffic now crossing the river in east London. 

“The new Silvertown tunnel will ease congestion for drivers, reduce journey times and help manage air pollution.”

A package of discounts and concessions are proposed, including a 50% discount for people on low incomes across east and southeast London, as well as free cross-river bus and DLR travel, and cycle shuttle-bus for at least one year

Taxis, blue badge holders and zero-emission capable and wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles registered with TfL will not pay to use the tunnel, as well as staff and patients eligible for the NHS reimbursement scheme 

Christina Calderato, director of strategy at TfL, said: “As we prepare for the opening of Silvertown Tunnel in the Spring and following public consultation, which saw more than 5,000 responses, we are now asking the TfL Board to make a final decision on the charges, discounts and exemptions for the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels. 

“If we did not introduce these, there would likely be high levels of traffic and congestion, which would lead to detrimental air quality impacts, as well as longer journey times.

“These measures will manage traffic demand as well as the environmental impacts, and ensure the new tunnel delivers on its objectives of reducing congestion and providing resilience at the Blackwall Tunnel, while ensuring we support local residents on low income, small businesses, sole traders and local charities. 

“Once confirmed, we will carry out a major marketing campaign to encourage drivers to sign up to TfL AutoPay, ensuring Londoners can benefit from the off-peak discounts from launch.”

Work on the new Silvertown Tunnel is continuing apace, with construction work on the main tunnel now complete. 

TfL and Riverlinx are now working to ensure that all the new safety systems within the tunnel are working. Once this is complete, the opening date for the tunnel will be confirmed. 

Work on Tidal Basin Roundabout, along with new walking and cycling routes around the roundabout and along Dock Road is also now nearly complete, and work on Lower Lea Crossing to improve the existing cycling route down towards Silvertown now well underway.

Land that was used for the construction of the Silvertown Tunnel in Newham will be re-used to support the regeneration of Royal Victoria and West Silvertown, as part of the Mayor’s wider vision for the regeneration of the Royal Docks, including the building of more than 36,000 new homes and the creation of 55,000 new jobs across this historic part of east London.