The new Silvertown Tunnel to open 7 April 2025
Faster cross-river journeys
Silvertown Tunnel will help enable faster cross-river journeys at peak times (06.00-10.00 northbound and southbound 16.00-19.00, Mon-Fri), between north and south of the River Thames in east London, helping to reduce congestion in and around Blackwall Tunnel. This is based on modelled data compared to a scenario without the Silvertown Tunnel (see our User Charging Assessment Framework for more information).
Providing more public transport services for Londoners
Zero-emission bus services through Silvertown Tunnel will offer new routes and better access to more destinations in addition to existing Blackwall Tunnel services. Across both tunnels, there will be 21 buses an hour in each direction during peak times between 07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday. These include the new express bus route Superloop SL4 and extended route 129. Route 108 will continue crossing through Blackwall Tunnel. A dedicated bus lane in both directions across Silvertown Tunnel will allow double-deck buses to cross the river east of Tower Bridge for the first time.
New free shuttle service through Silvertown Tunnel for cyclists
A new dedicated shuttle service will let cyclists rack their bikes and take a shuttle bus through Silvertown Tunnel, helping them cross safely, with clear directions to cycleways from the stops on both sides of the river.
Stops for this service will be located at Seagull Lane (north stop) and Millennium Way (south stop). There will be 5 buses per hour between 06:30 and 21:30, every day (no service on Christmas Day).This service will be free to use for cyclists for at least 12 months. All buses will be zero-emission at the tailpipe.
For the safety of both cyclists and drivers, cycling and walking through the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels will not be permitted.
See a map of cycleway routes and more information about cycling.
Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge
The Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels charge will be introduced once Silvertown Tunnel opens.
Once Silvertown Tunnel opens, you will need to pay each time you drive through either Blackwall or Silvertown tunnel, unless you or your vehicle are exempt from paying the charge. Charges will apply 06.00-22.00, 7 days a week in both directions, and are there to help manage traffic levels through both tunnels.
For customers registered for Auto Pay, off-peak rates will apply most of the time, including weekends. A peak charge will apply during the busiest times, which are 06:00-10:00 northbound and 16:00-19:00 southbound, weekdays only.
Why there's a charge
The tunnel charge is being introduced to help manage traffic levels across both tunnels, repay costs for building the new Silvertown Tunnel and go towards its on-going maintenance and operation.
All charges are listed below:
These charges will apply 06:00-22:00 and are per tunnel crossing
No charges will apply from 22:00-06:00 and on Christmas Day
|
Vehicle type |
Auto Pay off-peak charges Applies at all other times between 06:00-22:00, including weekends |
Auto Pay peak charges Monday to Friday only Northbound 06:00-10:00 Southbound 16:00-19:00 |
Charges paid by phone or online At all times |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycles, mopeds, motor tricycles | £1.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 |
| Cars and small vans | £1.50 | £4.00 | £4.00 |
| Large vans | £2.50 | £6.50 | £6.50 |
| Heavy goods vehicles | £5.00 | £10.00 | £10.00 |
Charges are based on the DVLA classifications of your vehicle type.
When to pay
Both tunnels will be open 24-hours a day. If you drive through either tunnel during charging times, you have until midnight on the third day after your journey to pay.
If you don't pay on time, you risk getting a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
How to pay
The easiest way to pay is by signing up for Auto Pay. This will let you access off-peak charges. You can set up a direct debit mandate or register a debit or credit card to your Auto Pay. The system will check whether you need to pay the Silvertown or Blackwall tunnels charge and will automatically bill your registered payment method each month.
There are no registration or renewal fees and you can sign up for Auto Pay before the tunnel opens. By signing up, you ensure you pay the lowest charge available for your vehicle type and the time of day that you drive through the tunnels.
Benefits of Auto Pay
- Never forget to pay charges again
- Pay the off-peak charge for your vehicle.
- Protection from receiving Penalty Charge Notices while a vehicle is registered
- Registration for up to five vehicles
Find out more and sign up for Auto Pay to help avoid unnecessary fines.
If you already have Auto Pay, you don't have to do anything if the vehicle you use to drive through the tunnels is on your account. You can add or remove vehicles through 'Manage Auto Pay' when logged in to your London Road User Charging account.
Other payment methods
If you use the following payment methods, you will be charged the peak rate at all times.
Download the official TfL Pay to drive in London app for free from both the Apple App store and Google play store.
Pay by phone
UK: 0343 222 2222 (call charges may apply)
International: +44 343 222 2222
Textphone: 020 7649 9123 (if you have impaired hearing)
Patients travelling to NHS hospital appointments may be able to get a refund for tunnel charges. Find out more about NHS reimbursements.
How will it work?
Cameras will read your number plate as you enter the tunnel and will check whether you have paid the charge or whether your vehicle is exempt from paying the charge.
There will be no barriers or tollbooths at either tunnel, nor can you pay at the tunnels. Drivers will need to pay either in advance or after using either tunnel.
Bus and DLR concessions to support local residents
There will also be concessions for local residents to take advantage of the new and improved public transport connections. Local residents will benefit from free pay as you go fares on certain bus routes which serve the boroughs of Greenwich, Newham and Tower Hamlets for at least 12 months once the Silvertown Tunnel opens. These routes are the new express bus service Superloop SL4 and extended route 129 which will go through the Silvertown Tunnel, and the existing route 108 through Blackwall Tunnel.
Just like on other buses, all customers must touch in with a valid contactless card, mobile or watch, or valid Oyster card (including concession photocards). To be eligible you must ensure that your payment method is valid for travel and that you have pay as you go credit on your Oyster card.
There are no changes to the Hopper fare or pay as you go fare caps.
Customers with valid concession Oyster photocards must have their card with them when boarding these buses. 60+ London Oyster and Older Person Freedom Pass holders are reminded that their cards are not accepted on weekdays between 04:30 - 08:59. During these times, contactless or a valid Oyster card can be used and free travel applies as above.
DLR
For at least 12 months after Silvertown Tunnel opens, customers using pay as you go for journeys between and including the following station pairs will have their fares refunded:
- Cutty Sark - Island Gardens
- Woolwich Arsenal - King George V
Refund process
Contactless pay as you go users
Customers must touch in and out correctly at the stations as usual and the fare for the journey will be taken as normal. A refund of the fare paid will automatically be issued to customers' cards in at least 14 days of completing the journey. Incomplete journey fares will not be refunded.
Oyster pay as you go users
Customers must touch in and out correctly at stations as usual and the fare for the journey will be taken as normal. A refund of the fare paid will automatically be issued in at least 14 days of completing the journey. Once the refund has been issued you will have up to 4 days to collect your refund by touching in on a yellow reader as part of a journey.
If a refund is not collected, customers should contact customer services on 0343 222 1234 (call charges may apply) to request the refund. Customers should wait at least two weeks before contacting Customer Services.
Incomplete journey fares will not be refunded.
Residents on certain low-income benefits
Residents living in 12 east London boroughs or the City of London, and on certain benefits, could be eligible for a 50% discount on their tunnel crossing charges. The eligible benefits are:
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment & Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Carer's Allowance
- Housing Benefit
Residents must live in Barking & Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, City of London, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, or Waltham Forest.
This discount will be available for a period of at least 3 years from when Silvertown Tunnel opens and will need to be renewed annually. Check back soon to register for this discount.
Discount for small businesses and charities
Small businesses, sole traders and charities will be eligible for a £1 discount on the off-peak charge on a maximum of 3 vehicles, for at least 12 months from when Silvertown Tunnel opens. The off-peak charge will only be available for vehicles registered with TfL on Auto Pay.
The business, charity, or sole trader must be registered and operate from an address within one the boroughs of: Greenwich, Newham, or Tower Hamlets. Check back soon to register for this discount.
Other driving discounts and exemptions
There will also be a 100% discount for Blue Badge holders, vehicles with 9+ seats and recovery and breakdown vehicles registered with TfL.
Emergency service vehicles, NHS vehicles and disabled taxation class vehicles are also exempt from the tunnels charge.
Taxis licensed by TfL will be exempt from charges. Zero-emission capable and wheelchair accessible private hire vehicles licensed by TfL will not be charged when carrying out a booking.
NHS Reimbursements
NHS staff and patients may be eligible to claim back certain charges. More information will be available on our NHS reimbursement scheme page soon.
