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6 toll motorway will cost ou 111 a truck every trip
Page 6
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al by Jennifer Ball
Hauliers and trade associations have reacted with disappointment to the news that trucks will have to pay £11 to use the new M6 toll motorway which will open in early 2004—more than double the rate predicted.
The rates were announced by Midland Expressway, operator of the 27-mile road, as CM went to press (Tuesday). Vans will have to pay £6, while cars users will only have to pay £3. Goods vehicles using the road over night (11pm-Gam) will be eligible for a £1discount.
However, the operator has announced discounted rates for the first 10 million vehicles; under this scheme, trucks will pay £10, vans £5 and cars £2.
Truck users who register for the M6 toll motorway's Electronic Tag scheme will be able to keep their £1 discount beyond the launch period.
The Freight Transport Association says the £11charge is far higher than operators have to pay on toll roads on the Continent, and stresses that yet again UK operators are being put at a disadvantage compared with their European competitors.
FTA chief executive Richard Turner says: "We had hoped for a truck rate of £5, making the decision to use the road by hauliers very simple. However, transport managers will make their choice and if the rate is wrong no doubt it will be changed."
Roger King, Road Haulage Association chief executive says that it is also disappointed and intends to meet with Midland Expressway to secure frequent user discounts: "These toll levels are too high for regular users. This is yet another cost to an industry that is already operating within the toughest of margins. There are those who will be fortunate enough to be able to pass on the additional cost; there are those who will not."
Stafford-based Stan Robinson, owner of Stan Robinson Transport, has 40 vehicles a day using the current M6 and says that he is concerned that congestion will just shift to alternative routes: "Traffic usually builds up around Junction 12. I am worried the new road will shift congestion back up to Stafford, so we will be hit before we even reach the motorway.
"It will be trial and error whether we use the new road. lit saves us an hour-and-a-half on our journey time then obviously we will use it. We will have to wait and see what the benefits are first."
However, Tom Fanning, managing director of Midlands Expressway says: 'With estimates of peak-time savings of 45 min utes at on the M6 toll road, and delays costing up to £30 an hour for trucks, the price ofjust £8.50 [after VAT is reclaimed] represents good value to businesses."