Silvertown Tunnel tolls rise 5% in Newham from 21 September
Peak charges for cars increase to £4.20 as TfL cites inflation and traffic management
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Drivers using the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels in Newham will face higher tolls from 21 September 2026, Transport for London announced. The 5% increase marks the first rise since the Silvertown Tunnel opened in April 2025, ending over a century of toll-free travel through the Blackwall Tunnel.
Peak charges for cars and small vans travelling northbound between 06:00 and 10:00 or southbound between 16:00 and 19:00 on weekdays will rise from £4 to £4.20. Off-peak tolls will increase by 5p to £1.55. The changes apply seven days a week between 06:00 and 22:00, as reported by the BBC.
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Large vans will now cost £6.80 at peak times, up from £6.50, while heavy goods vehicles will face charges of £10.50 during peak hours and £5.25 off-peak. Both increases represent a 5% rise.
TfL defends tolls as traffic management
Transport for London said the tolls are designed to manage demand and improve road network performance. Christina Calderato, TfL’s director of strategy, told the BBC the charges support economic growth by reducing congestion and encouraging public transport use.
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Without the tunnel user charge, there would be more traffic and congestion, with negative impacts on air quality and journey times.
Christina Calderato, TfL Director of Strategy
Calderato added that the small increase accounts for inflation and ensures the tolls remain effective. TfL’s data shows pollution and journey times around the Blackwall Tunnel fell significantly after the Silvertown Tunnel opened, compared with the previous year.
Critics say congestion shifted, not solved
Opponents argue the tunnel has not resolved congestion but merely moved it. A TfL report found weekday journey times through the Rotherhithe Tunnel rose by 3% after the Silvertown Tunnel opened. Traffic has also increased at the Woolwich Ferry, which remains free to use.
The Blackwall Tunnel had been toll-free since its construction in 1897. The Silvertown Tunnel, funded through a Private Finance Initiative, required TfL to repay £67 million in toll revenue last financial year, according to the BBC.
What happens next
The new toll rates will take effect at 06:00 on 21 September 2026. TfL has not announced plans for further increases, but the inflation-linked rise suggests future adjustments are possible. Drivers can pay online or via the TfL app, with charges applying to all vehicles travelling between the Greenwich Peninsula and Newham.
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