M6 Toll cost rises in March

The price for driving along the M6 Toll road and beating the normal M6 traffic is going up by 6.4% next month, according to the Freight Transport Association. They say that this inflation-busting rise will force drivers back onto the already heaving and over-congested M6, defeating the point of having the Toll there in the first place.

The FTA say that, especially given the recession which has hit commercial vehicle operators and LGV / HGV training centres, extra toll costs are the last thing anyone needs.

The toll road’s operator, Midland Expressway, released figures showing a fall in average daily traffic figures by 2.3% when compared to 2008. This is almost undoubtedly the reason for increasing the M6 Toll’s charges, which will come into effect on the 1st March 2010 and will be back to the levels of pre-July 2004, when Midland Expressway cut the HGV / LGV rate back to £6. This was to encourage freight and commercial companies to use the route over the normal M6.

The increased fares will apply to all Weekday Mainline Day Class 2 and Class 3 drivers. Weekday Mainline Day Class 1 rates remain the same, as do all nights, ramps and weekends.