EXCLUSIVE: Tyne Tunnel is OUTPERFORMING Dartford Tunnel and Mersey Tunnel after cashless switch

Data shared with NewcastleWorld shows a high level of compliance at the tunnel
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The Tyne Tunnel is performing better than similar roads at the Dartford Tunnel and Mersey Tunnel after its big cashless switch last November.

In data shared with NewcastleWorld, the number of customers who have understood and embraced the switch to open-road-tolling is greater in the North East than in Kent and on Merseyside.

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TT2 report that 94.6% of customers paid their toll on time during the first month without toll booths in November 2021.

That means a non-compliance rate of 5.39% which compares favourably with Dartford and Mersey.

Dartford recorded a non-compliance rate of 10% and Mersey of 5.8% during their first months after the switch.

TT2 invested around £250,000 in a marketing and communications campaign to raise awareness of the changes and that campaign is still going.

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Despite some users becoming confused and some issued double fines in the early days after the switch, which led to the creation of a viral online petition, the Tyne Tunnel remains ahead of similar models.

Chief Executive at TT2, Philip Smith, said: “Open-road-tolling has delivered quicker, smoother journeys for our customers and cut congestion significantly.

“In the first month, almost 95% of drivers understood the new system, and paid their toll on time.

“Open-road-tolling will naturally take customers some time to get used to and NECA has relaxed the rules around fines, during this transition period, to allow for this.

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“We are looking at all the data as it emerges, taking in all the feedback from customers and other stakeholders, and making tweaks to improve it, in response.

"We expect the rate to improve over the coming months, as it has on all similar river crossings.”

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