Exclusive:
Despite issuing out millions of emails and 1.5 million leaflets, only 1,131 Londoners, businesses and charities have applied for the Silvertown Tunnel’s toll discount scheme
Growing concern surrounds the major regeneration of a Victorian-era tunnel, just weeks ahead of its grand opening. The ambitious expansion of Silvertown Tunnel, which has been funded with a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) against future earnings for £2.2 billion, has been met with unwavering backlash since its approval in 2018.
The new 1.4km will link Silvertown to the Greenwich Peninsula in east London and aims to slash congestion, delays and queues in the area by making peak-time journeys faster and more reliable. Once opened, the average trip across the river should be slashed by up to 20 minutes. More public transport offerings will become available, with 21 zero-emission buses an hour travelling in each direction between 7am and 7pm Monday-Friday.
Transport for London (TfL) argues the Blackwall Tunnel was ‘never designed’ for the levels of traffic that now try and cross the river on a daily basis. “Incidents with larger, unsuitable vehicles frequently cause delays and closures; Idling traffic builds up, often leading to tailbacks of several miles in just a few minutes,” the organisation added. “This increases journey times, as drivers either queue in traffic or choose longer routes to avoid the tunnel. It also has a negative impact on air quality.” However, swathes of residents remain unhappy about the mega project – particularly as TfL has allowed larger Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) to use the tunnel, meaning they’ll no longer have to travel over the Dartford Crossing. Campaigners have slammed this rule, arguing they’ll be subject to gas-guzzling vehicles travelling past their ‘schools and kids’, worsening the area’s air quality.
Once open, drivers will be charged every time they travel through either the Blackwall Tunnel or the new Silvertown Tunnel unless they travel between 10pm and 6am. Those registered for Auto Pay will be able to access ‘off-peak charges’ which discounts the toll fee if using the tunnel at certain times. This applies to those on motorcycles, mopeds, motor tricycles, cars, small and large vans – and HGVs.
Brits living in Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, City of London, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Foreston who claim certain benefits are entitled to a 50 per cent discount for at least the next three year, reducing the lowest toll fee to just 75p. These include:
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Carer’s Allowance
- Housing Benefit
Locals will also have access to free bus fares for at least the first year of opening, while discounts will be offered to small businesses, sole traders and charities. No charges will incur at any time for vehicles with a disabled tax class, Taxis licensed by Tf, Zero-emission capable and wheelchair-accessible private hire vehicles licensed by TfL when carrying out a booking, and DVLA-registered minibuses, buses and coaches.
Silvertown and Blackwall tunnel charges
|
Vehicle |
Auto Pay off-peak charges (Incudes weekends) |
Auto Pay peak charges (Monday to Friday only Northbound 06:00-10:00 Southbound 16:00-19:00) |
Pay by phone/ online |
|
Motorcycle, moped, motor tricycle |
£1.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 |
|
Cars and small van |
£1.50 | £4 | £4 |
|
Large van |
£2.50 | £6.50 | £6.50 |
|
Heavy goods vehicle |
£5 | £10 | £10 |
As previously reported, applications for the low-income discounts began on January 27, 2025. However, new data reveals that as of February 17, only 904 residents and 229 businesses and charities had actually applied for the discount.
Hina Bokhari, the London Assembly’s Liberal Democrat group leader, is cited as describing the ‘low take-up’ as ‘very worrying’ – arguing more needed to be done to make sure local people are ‘fully aware of the discounts available to them’. However, speaking exclusively with the Mirror – a spokesperson for TfL insists the organisation has launched a ‘comprehensive multi-channel campaign’ to raise awareness of the new tunnel opening date (April 7, 2025) as well as its toll charges and discounted tolls available.
Want big news with big heart? Get the top headlines sent straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter
“Messaging explaining the low income and business discount is appearing in local press, radio, and online video supported by a general discounts message in video on demand channels,” the spokesperson added. “In addition, more than 1.5 million leaflets have been delivered to residents in 13 east London boroughs, [and] more than 80,000 leaflets have been directly mailed to businesses in Greenwich, Newham and Tower Hamlets where the business discount will be available.”
TfL confirmed a further 35,000 leaflets have been printed for ‘face-to-face distribution’ in high-footfall locations. This includes shopping centres, supermarkets, car parks and builders markets.
“More than 2.8 million emails have been sent to customers on the TfL database including local residents and businesses,” the spokesperson continued. “We continue to work to ensure that messaging around pre-registration and the discounts available reaches as many people as possible.”
You can apply for a toll discount or exemption here – or learn more about Auto Pay here.
Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured