Could London Drivers Be Charged On A Cost Per Mile Basis?
This article on CarWow is entitled Transport for London Investing £150 million In Technology Capable Of Enforcing Pay-Per-Mile Road Charging.
These reasons are given for the new system.
- Transport for London developing new ANPR technology
- Set to be used for Ulez and congestion charging for now
- Could be expanded in the future to include pay-per-mile road charging
- Estimated project cost of £150 million
In addition, this paragraph gives another reason.
A new platform for existing road user charging schemes, such as Ulez and the Congestion Charge, is being developed by Transport for London to replace the outsourced system currently in place as the contract is due to expire in 2026.
I can understand, that if it is brought in house, that this might create more jobs in London, rather than somewhere far away.
Speeding
If you read the article on CarWow, nothing is said about speeding.
But surely, if a sophisticated computer system knew you were at A and B at certain times, it could calculate your speed.
Coupled with a 20 mph speed limit, it could be a big money earner.
It also gets Sadiq Khan off the hook with pay-per-mile charging. He just introduces fines for people, who break the law by speeding.
Conclusion
I don’t drive, so it doesn’t bother me.
But I would advise anyone, who does, to think long and hard about who they vote for.
What Will Khan Call The West London Orbital Railway?
The Mayor has the problem of what to call the West London Orbital Railway, which could likely be the next part of the Overground to be created.
As that area of London is closely associated with a former Mayor of London, it could possibly be called the Ken Line or the Livingstone Line.
But seeing that the Overground was thought up under Ken’s Mayoralty and it has greatly expanded, then perhaps it should be called the Beyond Our Ken Line.
But then it doesn’t go anywhere near the Balls Pond Road!
Safety On The London Underground
This post has been inspired by this article on The Times, which is entitled Woman Who Lost Limbs In Tube Accident Seeks Sadiq Khan Meeting.
This is the sub-heading.
Sarah de Lagarde has launched legal action against Transport for London, which she says has not accepted responsibility and needs a comprehensive safety review.
These two paragraphs add a few details to the story.
A public relations executive who lost her right arm and leg after being hit by two Tube trains has called on Sadiq Khan, the London mayor, to meet her to discuss Transport for London’s “outdated” attitude to safety.
Sarah de Lagarde, 46, slipped on a wet and uneven platform at High Barnet station in north London in September 2022 and fell down the gap between the train and the platform. No one heard her cries for help after she broke her nose and two teeth in the fall. After being hit by two trains she was rushed to hospital, where her limbs were amputated.
These are my thoughts.
The Brave Paramedic
My late wife was a family barrister and one of her clients had been one of the brave specially-trained paramedics, who go under London Underground trains to rescue those who’ve tried to commit suicide or have just fallen, as this lady had.
He said that many don’t succeed in committing suicide, but lose a number of limbs and/or end up in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives. So professionally, he told my wife, he would never recommend it as a method to commit suicide.
Suicide Pits
It should also be noted, that large numbers of Underground stations have suicide pits, where if you fall you may avoid injury or survive. Wikipedia says that a pit halves the number of deaths.
These galleries show the lines at various platforms on the Northern Line.
Angel – Southbound
These pictures show the Southbound track at Angel station.
It should be noted that Angel station does not have platform edge doors.
The suicide pit was installed or rebuilt, when the station was rebuilt in 1992.
Bank – Northbound
These pictures show the Northbound track at Bank station.
It should be noted that Bank station does not have platform edge doors.
The track was rebuilt in the last three years.
Bank -Southbound
These pictures show the Northbound track at Bank station.
It should be noted that Bank station does not have platform edge doors.
The track was built in the last three years.
High Barnet
These pictures show the tracks at High Barnet station.
It should be noted that High Barnet station does not have suicide pits or platform edge doors.
Woodside Park
These pictures show the tracks at Woodside Park station.
It should be noted that Woodside Park station does not have suicide pits or platform edge doors.
These are a few final thoughts.
I don’t like being on the platform, when a train goes past or comes in. Would platforms be safer, if there were shelters or recesses, where passengers could stand back and hold on away from the platform edge?
As an instrument engineer, I wouldn’t be surprised that a specialist camera system couldn’t be developed that could detect bodies on the track.
I have a feeling that some judges might say that London Underground were not doing enough to stop injuries to those falling onto the tracks.
Sadiq Khan ‘Is Waging War On Motorists To Plug The £15 Billion Blackhole In TfL Finances’
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on London Loves Business.
These are the first three paragraphs.
Sadiq Khan plans to raise at least £123 million per year by charging motorists to drive through the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels.
In a written response to a question from City Hall Conservatives, the Mayor said tolls would be introduced on both tunnels when the new Silvertown Tunnel opens in 2025.
The Mayor said Transport for London (TfL) would receive revenue from the new tolls and penalty notices, less the cost of annual construction repayments and maintenance fees. The Mayor, who is chairman of TfL, has previously said he expects tolls and penalties to ‘more than cover’ these annual costs.
I don’t drive, so the cost of using the tunnels, has no effect on my finances.
This document from TfL says this about car usage in London.
London residents aged 16+ make 4.6m car driver trips and 1.4m car passenger trips
on an average day, of which 3.7m are within London, with the remainder involving
travel to and from London. Non-residents make around 1 million car journeys a day
to, from or within London.
It does look that London has a lot of car drivers and passengers.
Surely, out of common decency, the toll for using the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels, should be disclosed by Sadiq Khan before the London Mayor Election later this year.
Or is he frightened, that the size of the toll will lose him votes?
Counter-Terror Officers Investigate Ulez Camera Explosion
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism officers are investigating an incident where a Ulez camera was blown up using a “low-sophistication improvised explosive device” (IED).
These two paragraphs introduce the story.
The explosion happened at about 18:45 GMT on Wednesday in Sidcup, south-east London, damaging vehicles and property.
The Met has said it is treating the blast as a “deliberate act”, but not terrorism at this stage.
It also appears that the camera had been cut down earlier and then someone blew it up.
I am 76 and I know several of my generation, who experimented with explosives. One, who was an American, blew his hand off.
But speaking to my children, none said they had experimented.
Is it, that my generation was born closer to World War II?
I don’t drive so ULEZs and Low Traffic Neighborhoods don’t bother me, but if some blow-up cameras and deface the signs, they must bother others.
I can’t help feeling that Sadiq Khan is introducing policies, that some violently object to!
I doubt that is a sensible policy, both practically or politically.
Lights And Signs In Old Street Roundabout
London’s slowest construction project seems to have been making a bit of progress as more traffic lights are working and signs have been erected.
Note.
- There’s still a fair bit to do in the middle of the roundabout.
- There is a notice saying it will be finished in early 2024.
- I suspect, that if the bus stops are placed for the benefit of passengers, it will add more passengers to the 141 buses.
But I can’t wait for it to be finished, as it will ease my journeys to the Elizabeth Line. But only because the bus I take gets stuck in all the traffic at the roundabout.
Two days after I took the first pictures, I took these, as I used the Northern Line to go from Old Street station to King’s Cross St. Pancras station.
Note.
- The tunnel and lift need to be completed.
- The walk wasn’t difficult except for the rubbish outside the fast-food shops.
- But then the streets of Islington are paved with rubbish.
- I’m now more convinced that this route opens fully, it’ll increase passengers on the 141 buses.
- But then what does SadIQ Khan and his useful idiots know about mathematical modelling?
Blackwall And Silvertown Tunnels: Mayor Proposes Discount For Some Users
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
The London mayor has written to the government to say he is considering a low-income residents’ discount for the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels.
These paragraphs outline the story.
Both east London tunnels will have tolls from 2025, although no specific charge has been decided.
Sadiq Khan said the impact on Londoners who might struggle to afford the fees needed to be mitigated.
Mr Khan has asked that any discounts should not affect funding for Transport for London (TfL).
itvX has an article with this title Drivers Could Be Charged £5.25 To Use Blackwall And Silvertown Tunnels, Sadiq Khan Suggests.
My view is that the phrase about a pig and lipstick applies to the Silvertown Tunnel.
Silvertown Tunnel Works – 24th September 2023
I took these pictures of the Silvertown Tunnel works on the North Bank of the Thames today.
I was on a train going to Woolwich Arsenal.
What Is The Silvertown Tunnel?
The title of this section, is the same as that of this article on the Londonist, which is an excellent description of the Silvertown Tunnel.
The article says this about tolls.
The new tunnel will require you to part with some pounds if you want to use it. Despite the consultation on this taking place a decade ago, the final details have yet to be publicised. We can expect something similar to the Dartford Crossing (currently £2.50 for cars etc, free for motorbikes/mopeds).
As there is a mayoral election next year, I doubt that Sadiq Khan will announce the charge on the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels before the election.
Let’s Play Accountants
This is a paragraph in the Londonist Article.
Construction of the tunnel is eating up something like £1.2 billion (2020 estimate). It’ll then cost another estimated £1 billion over 25 years to pay for maintenance, financing and operation. Riverlinx paid up-front costs and will be paid back by TfL through money collected from tolls.
The running costs would appear to be a billion over 25 years, which is £ 40,000,000 in a year.
This is said on this page on the Greater London Assembly web site.
Blackwall tunnels (northbound and southbound) each carry approximately 50,000 vehicles per day in only two lanes of traffic.
That means that each tunnel handles approximately 18,250,000 vehicles per year.
Dartford Crossing charges are according to the Wikipedia entry are as follows.
- Cars, motorhomes, small minibuses – £ 2.50
- 2-axle buses, coaches, vans, goods – £ 3.00
- Multi-axle goods, coaches – £ 6.00
The Wikipedia entry also says this about the capacity and traffic through and over the Dartford Crossing.
The design capacity is 135,000 vehicles per day, but in practice the crossing carries around 160,000.
My good friend; Bob from the 1970s had an impeccable cv.
- Chief Accountant of Vickers.
- Chief Management Accountant of Lloyds Bank.
He was also one of two outstanding practical accountants I have known.
Several of his practical tips on how to handle money in computers, ended up in Artemis; the project management computer system, I wrote in the 1970.
Bob and I would solve problems in Mother Bunches Wine Bar and I suspect, we’d come to the conclusion, that an average charge of £3 per vehicle will be charged in the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels.
I also believe from my fluid flow experience, that a proportion of the excess traffic through and over the Dartford Crossing will divert to the new Silvertown Tunnel.
- Together the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels will have four lanes in both directions.
- The Silvertown Tunnel will hopefully designed to modern standards and be more free-flowing, than the Blackwall.
- Sat-navs will direct drivers to the quickest routes.
Just as water finds its own level, an equilibrium will develop between the flows.
- I suspect that during the day, the flow over the Dartford Crossing will drop to the design capacity of 135,000
- At night, will vehicles divert through the free-flowing Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels?
- Will those living in North Central London inside the North Circular Road drive through the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels?
- Will the free-flowing Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels encourage people crossing the Thames to use their car, rather than the train, as the car is more convenient and the toll will be less than the train fare?
- We should also beware that new roads, railways and tunnels generate new traffic, that no-one predicts.
My feeling is that combined traffic through the four lanes of the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels will be upwards of seventy thousand per day.
I can now calculate revenue for different levels of combined traffic through the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels.
- 40,000 vehicles in each direction per day is a total of 29,200,000 vehicles per year, which would raise £ 87.6 million per year in toll charges.
- 50,000 vehicles in each direction per day is a total of 36,500,000 vehicles per year, which would raise £ 109.5 million per year in toll charges.
- 60,000 vehicles in each direction per day is a total of 43,800,000 vehicles per year, which would raise £ 131.4 million per year in toll charges.
- 70,000 vehicles in each direction per day is a total of 51,100,000 vehicles per year, which would raise £ 153.3 million per year in toll charges.
- 80,000 vehicles in each direction per day is a total of 58.400,000 vehicles per year, which would raise £ 175.2 million per year in toll charges.
I am assuming the following.
- All days of a 365-day year have similar traffic.
- Everybody pays without fuss, by technology like number-plate recognition.
- The average toll chare paid is £ 3.
I am drawn to the conclusion, that the contract signed between Transport for London and Riverlinx, is a licence to print money.
Even, if the tunnels only attract 40-50,000 vehicles per day, the revenue is way in excess of the £40 million needed for maintenance, financing and operation of the Silvertown Tunnel.
I have a few further thoughts and questions.
Who Are Riverlinx?
This is said on the About Roverlinx page of the Riverlinx web site.
TfL awarded Riverlinx SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) the contract for financing and overseeing the design, build and maintenance of the Silvertown Tunnel in 2019.
The Riverlinx CJV (Construction Joint Venture) is contracted by TfL and Riverlinx SPV to complete the design and construction works, delivering the Silvertown Tunnel on time and on budget.
Riverlinx CJV is a joint venture, a partnership bringing together international, market leading expertise from three civil engineering and construction companies: BAM Nuttall, Ferrovial Construction and SK ecoplant.
In collaboration with TfL, our supply chain and other key stakeholders in the project, Riverlinx CJV will complete construction of the Silvertown Tunnel in Spring 2025.
Note.
- BAM Nuttall is a construction and civil engineering company, that is a subsidiary of the Dutch Royal BAM Group.
- Ferrovial Construction is the construction subsidiary of Spanish company; Ferrovial.
- SK ecoplant is a subsidiary of the South Korean conglomorate; SK Group.
These companies should be capable of building the Silvertown Tunnel.
Where Will The Money To Build The Tunnel Come From?
In World’s Largest Wind Farm Attracts Huge Backing From Insurance Giant, using an article in The Times, I explain how Aviva invest our pensions and insurance money in wind farms.
Strangely, a tolled tunnel is a bit like a wind farm financially, in that if it’s working and the wind is blowing or the traffic is coming, it will continue to generate an income.
Built by quality construction companies, as most tunnels are, they will be the sort of investment, that would satisfy the Avivas of this world.
Will Riverlinx Get All The Tolls From The Tunnel?
Nothing is said about how the excess of income over expenditure will go.
I suspect, as the project is being designed, financed and built by Riverlinx, that they will not go unrewarded.
Will The Mayor Set The Toll Charges?
I suspect that the Mayor and TfL will set the charges.
These are some figures with different charges for 70,000 vehicles in each direction per day or a total of 51,100,000 vehicles per year.
- £3 in each direction would raise £ 153.3 million per year in toll charges.
- £4 in each direction would raise £ 204.4 million per year in toll charges.
- £5 in each direction would raise £ 255.5 million per year in toll charges.
- £6 in each direction would raise £ 306.6 million per year in toll charges.
Note.
- Some of the papers are talking of a four pound charge.
- A pound increase may not be much to the average driver, but they will certainly mount up.
Higher toll charges could be used by an unscrupulous Mayor to deter vehicles entering Central London or nudge people towards public transport.
What Happens If The Tunnel Springs A Leak?
I can remember the following tunnels being built under the Thames in my lifetime.
- Blackwall Tunnel – second bore
- Dartford Tunnel
- DLR to Greenwich and Lewisham
- DLR to Woolwich
- Elizabeth Line to Woolwich
- Jubilee Line – four crossings
- Victoria Line to Vauxhall
None of these seven seems to have sprung a leak recently. And neither have the older Victorian tunnels.
Tunnels with an income stream, appear to be a good risk, if they don’t spring a leak.
But London tunnels don’t seem to have a high likelihood of leaking.
Fines
Fines could be a problem, but this article on Kent Online, which is entitled Dartford Crossing Continues To Generate more Than One-Third Of Income From Fines As Profits Total More Than £100m, says otherwise.
Conclusion
This would appear to be a low risk venture and I suspect it will make Riverlinx and TfL a lot of money.
The Crystal Palace Bus Charger – 19th September 2023
I went to see the new charger at Crystal Palace for the new Irizar ie trams that will be introduced on route 358.
I took these pictures.
Note.
- It is not finished yet or someone has nicked the pantograph.
- Irizar seem to make their own chargers.
- It looks a well-designed installation.
This Spanish video shows the bus inside and outside.
I have a few thoughts.
The Specification Of The Bus
This document on the Irizar web site is the specification of the ie trams, that London are buying.
Passenger Capacity
According to the specification, these twelve metre long buses have a capacity of 97-99 passengers, with 21-28 seated, depending on layout.
Is that a bit tight? Especially, if people are carrying large cases.
Climbing Anerley Hill
I wonder how these buses will manage to climb Anerley Hill.
- This page on a cycling blog, rates the hill as the fourth stiffest in London.
- A typical Wrightbus or AlexanderDennis single-decker diesel bus has a kerb weight of 13-14 tonnes.
- The ie tram gives maximum front and rear axle loadings which total 21.2 tonnes. But that includes the passengers, which at 60 Kg each account for a lot of the difference in weight with the diesel buses.
- Anerley Hill has a rise of upwards of 30 metres.
Using Omni’s Potential Energy Calculator gives a figure of less than 2 KWh of energy needed to get up the hill.
That should be possible!
News Of The Bus
But there has been very little news on the Internet of these buses and their chargers, with the last story dated a year ago. Given Sadiq Khan’s love of publicity, does that mean anything?
Conclusion
It seems that Irizar have pulled out all the stops in the design of this bus.
The Anonymous Widower 