Asked by: Jen Craft (Labour - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 65933 on Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls, what estimate she has made of the change in the level of car journeys on that crossing due to (a) the change in charges and (b) other factors for the years 2025 to 2030 inclusive.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Our assessment is that average daily car journeys at the Dartford Crossing during the chargeable hours (0600-2200) for the first twelve months after the increase in charges will be between 4500-6000 fewer than would otherwise have been the case. We consider those figures should be treated with caution given the limitations of the assessment however, and consequently that it is the expected trends for changed traffic demand given in the answer of 11 July that are the more pertinent consideration. No estimates have been made for the other years or other factors.
Asked by: Jen Craft (Labour - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 65933 on Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls, on what evidential basis her Department expects there to be fewer car journeys due to higher charges on that crossing.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Our assessment of the impact on demand at the Dartford Crossing from changing the charges applied there drew on existing modelling work, including the Lower Thames Area Model, the National Trip End Model and National Road Traffic Projections.
Asked by: Jen Craft (Labour - Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 17 June 2025 on Dart Charge, HCWS708, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the fare to cross Dartford Tunnel on levels of demand on that crossing.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Our assessment is that the change in charges will mean there are fewer car journeys at the Crossing than would have been the case otherwise, and that this will enable more goods vehicle journeys to be made.