Silvertown and Blackwall tunnel charges to rise 5%

The cost of driving through the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels will increase from Monday 21 September, Transport for London (TfL) says.

Peak charges for cars and small vans travelling northbound between 06:00-10:00 and southbound between 16:00-19:00 on weekdays will rise by 5% from £4 to £4.20. Off-peak charges will increase by 5p to £1.55.

Heavy goods vehicles will see charges increase by 5% each way to £5.25 (off-peak) and £10.50 at peak times. Charges are payable seven days a week for journeys made between 06:00 and 22:00.

TfL says the Silvertown Tunnel "has helped to reduce journey times, improved reliability through both tunnels, eased congestion, and made peak-time journeys faster".

Large vans will now pay £6.80 at peak times for the crossings between the Greenwich Peninsula and Newham, up from £6.50, and £2.60 at off-peak - a 10p jump.

Before the Silvertown Tunnel opened in April 2025, the Blackwall Tunnel had been toll-free since its construction in 1897.

Critics say that rather than solving congestion, the tunnel has diverted traffic to other crossings, including the Woolwich Ferry, which remains free to use.

A report from TfL previously found pollution and journey times had fallen significantly around the Blackwall Tunnel compared with the year before it opened, but also showed that Rotherhithe Tunnel journey times had risen 3% on weekdays.

Under the Private Finance Initiative used to fund the construction, TfL previously said it expected to repay about £100m a year through toll revenue. The repayment for the last financial year was about £67m.

Christina Calderato, director of strategy at TfL, said: "The tunnel user charges are designed to manage traffic demand – which then enables wider objectives like improving the road network's performance and resilience, encouraging use of public transport and active travel, and supporting economic growth.

"Without the tunnel user charge, there would be more traffic and congestion, with negative impacts on air quality and journey times.

"A small increase to the tunnel user charges to account for inflation would ensure the user charge remains at the right level to manage traffic demand at the tunnels and achieve the project's other objectives effectively."

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