Tyne Tunnel 2 - demonstrably unfair practices

sonearandyetsofa

Blue & white signage on the side of the road is pretty standard for informational road signs, any driver should be able to read these without becoming too distracted so I doubt that would hold true as an argument against paying the toll.

24 hours after passing through isn't unreasonable considering you can pay online or over the phone. The Tyne tunnel isn't in a signal blackspot, and if you travel without any internet capable devices there is still the option to pay over the phone or stop in at a library or similar to make the payment. So if you are taking a trip longer than 24 hours without a stop (impressive if you're not driving an aquatic vehicle!) you should be able to find the time somewhere.

The fines are punitive, the operating costs involved in billing you manually mean a 100% fine (£2.50 remember) likely wouldn't even cover the cost of sending you the letter.

I forgot all about the Dartmouth crossing and sent our works delivery team down there, received a fine in the post a couple of weeks later. I ended up setting up an account which takes the payment automatically so I didn't have the same issue in the future, I am fairly sure the Tyne tunnel offers something similar so if it's a recurring problem for people there is a solution.

Jenni_D

mr_stripey said:

Here's how tunnel radio broadcasts work:

• Transmitters

  Low-power transmitters are placed throughout the tunnel, each with a specific range. 
• Re-broadcasting

  Tunnel radio re-broadcasting systems re-transmit AM/FM radio broadcasts so drivers can listen to the radio while in a tunnel. 
• Emergency broadcasts

  In an emergency, the system can interrupt regular broadcasts to relay warning and evacuation messages. 
• Frequency

  In some cases, the radio frequency inside the tunnel is different from the one used by the broadcaster. In other cases, the program is transmitted on the same frequency as outside. 
• 
  

  
  
  
  Admittedly an AI answer but it seems the tunnel emergency broadcast will override any AM/FM regular broadcast.
  
  Everyone would be wise to brush up on tunnel safety. A fire in a tunnel is your worst nightmare!

Don't most people listen to DAB stations these days? So shouldn't the sign be more specific?  

brianposter

Alderbank said:

...or you can pay at any Paypoint location.

There are 28,000 of them across the UK so you should pass quite a few of them on your marathon drive.

The problem with all these alternative methods to pay is that you have to discover that they exist. You may, for example be on the way to catch a plane or a ferry and may have few resources available for over 24 hours.

My reaction to the 24 hour deadline is that is an unnecessary problem invented by someone who clearly lives in a city.

If you are going to provide for post-event payment you might as well do it properly.

eskbanker

sonearandyetsofa said:

I forgot all about the Dartmouth crossing...

That's a ferry, much harder to forget than a tunnel

voluted

Jenni_D said:

mr_stripey said:

Here's how tunnel radio broadcasts work:

• Transmitters

  Low-power transmitters are placed throughout the tunnel, each with a specific range. 
• Re-broadcasting

  Tunnel radio re-broadcasting systems re-transmit AM/FM radio broadcasts so drivers can listen to the radio while in a tunnel. 
• Emergency broadcasts

  In an emergency, the system can interrupt regular broadcasts to relay warning and evacuation messages. 
• Frequency

  In some cases, the radio frequency inside the tunnel is different from the one used by the broadcaster. In other cases, the program is transmitted on the same frequency as outside. 
• 
  

  
  
  
  Admittedly an AI answer but it seems the tunnel emergency broadcast will override any AM/FM regular broadcast.
  
  Everyone would be wise to brush up on tunnel safety. A fire in a tunnel is your worst nightmare!

Don't most people listen to DAB stations these days? So shouldn't the sign be more specific?  

No, because DAB is radio just as AM/FM is. The sign is correct, the AI answer is arguably too specific.

outtatune

brianposter said:

Alderbank said:

...or you can pay at any Paypoint location.

There are 28,000 of them across the UK so you should pass quite a few of them on your marathon drive.

The problem with all these alternative methods to pay is that you have to discover that they exist. You may, for example be on the way to catch a plane or a ferry and may have few resources available for over 24 hours.

My reaction to the 24 hour deadline is that is an unnecessary problem invented by someone who clearly lives in a city.

If you are going to provide for post-event payment you might as well do it properly.

But you can pay in advance. 

The number of people who are surprised to find themselves driving into the tunnel and genuinely cannot make a phonecall, access a website, or pop into a shop within 24 hours must be minute. And presumably the tunnel operators are not interested in their business.

If you don't like the payment methods offered, don't use the service, and find another way to cross the river.

brianposter

It is not me who has used the service but I am presumably entitled to have an opinion on the OP"s experience.

I agree with the OP that the payment window is ludicrously small (and ought to be increased).

Grumpy_chap

brianposter said:

I agree with the OP that the payment window is ludicrously small (and ought to be increased).

What do you think the payment window should be extended to?
It is currently "24 hours plus the remainder of today".
That is quite generous compared to five minutes reported here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2k0qlpjgk2o

Would a longer payment window solve the problem?
If it was "10 days plus the remainder of today", would there be comments raised that is too short as only passed through on the way to the annual family two-week summer holiday and not reasonable to have to deal with while away from home?

Would a longer payment window actually create more problems?
I had a month to do this, put it to one side and then life happened so it totally slipped my mind because of child being ill (or whatever) - it's not reasonable to punish me like this as we spent several days visiting hospitals and such like....

brianposter

I would suggest that a week would allow almost everybody with a practical problem in paying to find a way to do so. In the case of parking I would suggest that nobody who has obviously paid should expect to receive a penalty.

None of which is very difficult to achieve.

debsy42

We went through the Tyne Tunnel a couple of weeks ago, we're not local so never used it before. The signs are big, you can't miss them telling you about the toll and when to pay by. Sorry but it's not rocket science. Open an online account, stick a fiver on and you don't need to worry about remembering to pay the toll. Top up when necessary.