M6 Toll fee goes up again

Car drivers will be charged £5 to use the M6 Toll road from March following the sixth price rise on the motorway in just seven years.

The new 30p increase for cars will make it £5 to use the route midweek between 6am and 11pm.

For lorries and vans using the £900million route the rise is 60p to £10.

There will be no rise for motorbikes but cars with trailers will go up 60p to £9.

Midland Expressway Ltd said the new rates would apply from 6am on Monday, March 1, on the 27-mile motorway between Cannock and Coleshill.

The last rise on the privately-funded road was a year ago.

MEL is freezing its rates for nights and weekends and is offering a discount of five per cent for electronic tag account holders.

All rates at local junction toll plazas are unchanged.

MEL chief executive Tom Fanning said today: "The M6 Toll opened in late 2003 and still remains the most reliable route through the West Midlands.

"The M6 Toll remains excellent value for money to avoid the congested M6. We continue to offer all customers a five per cent discount per trip through the use of an electronic tag. With this, a £5 trip would cost £4.75."

MEL, which built the road, has the Government concession to run it until 2054 and is wholly owned by the Macquariex Infrastructure Group of Australia.

The Saturday and Sunday charges are: Motorcycles £2.50; cars £4.50; and vans and lorries £9. The night rate is: Motorcycles £1.50; cars £3.50; and vans and lorries, £8.

By John Corser