Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnel introduce toll charge for drivers
Drivers using the Blackwall Tunnel and the new Silvertown Tunnel will be required to pay a toll, with car journeys costing up to £4 each way.
This charge is being introduced on the same day the new Silvertown Tunnel opens, which will connect east London to southeast London (near the 02 Arena).
For car drivers, a round-trip during peak hours will cost £8, while large vans will face a charge of up to £13.
The Silvertown Tunnel is designed to ease congestion around the Blackwall Tunnel, with Transport for London (TfL) claiming it will reduce journey times by up to 20 minutes.
TfL explains that the Blackwall Tunnel was not built to handle the current volume of traffic, resulting in more frequent incidents that cause long delays and negatively impact air quality.
In addition to private vehicles, around 21 buses will pass through the new tunnel every hour from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, offering new routes for passengers.
A dedicated shuttle service will also transport cyclists and their bikes across the river. Both tunnels will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week (including bank holiday).
Tolls must be paid by phone or online, with the easiest payment method being Auto Pay, which links payment cards to an account for automatic payments.
Failure to pay the toll will result in a £180 penalty charge, which can be reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
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Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels costs
From April 7th 2025, the prices to travel through the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels have been updated.
Here is what you can expect to pay to use the tunnel:
| Vehicle type | Peak charges Mon-Fri: Northbound (6am-10am) / Southbound (4pm-7pm) | Off-peak: All other times between 6am-10pm (inc weekends) | Charges paid via phone, online, or app | No charges apply 10pm-6am |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles, mopeds and motor tricycles | 2.50 | 1.50 | 2.50 | 0.00 |
| Cars and small vans | 4.00 | 1.50 | 4.00 | 0.00 |
| Large vans | 6.50 | 2.50 | 6.50 | 0.00 |
| HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) | 10.00 | 5.00 | 10.00 | 0.00 |
Cheaper than AA Price Promise^
• Roadside cover from £5.29 a month
• We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
• Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns on the spot
*At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-vehicle Roadside (basic) ^T&Cs apply.
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