Mersey Tunnels tolls set to rise – but increase is still below maximum level
A rise in Mersey Tunnel tolls is on the cards at next Friday’s Liverpool City Region Combined Authority meeting – but it says commuters will still pay less than the maximum possible increases.
The authority says local Mersey Tunnel users will continue to pay the lowest tolls, while the cost of the young person’s MyTicket, which allows all-day unlimited bus travel for under-19s, will remain frozen for the eighth year running.
A discounted Mersey Tunnel journey for Liverpool City Region residents with a T Flow account is proposed to rise by 10p to £1.50 – meaning that a majority of tunnel users will be paying 30p less than when Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram was first elected in 2017, said the authority.
The change will mean city region residents – who account for 51% of journeys – would still pay nearly half the £2.80 maximum amount authorised under the Tunnels Act, and the same toll as in 2007.
Steve Rotheram said: “With the cost of living continuing to put pressure on families across our region, I want to make sure we’re doing what we can to make travel as accessible, fair, and affordable for everyone.
“As well as freezing the young person’s MyTicket and maintaining the £2 bus fares cap, we’re continuing to ensure that city region residents pay the lowest prices to travel around our area – whether by bus, train or car. Thousands upon thousands of residents will benefit from these proposals and we are committed to keep prices affordable, while continuing to improve our public transport system.”
The combined authority said under legislation tunnel tolls are allowed to rise in line with inflation. However, the authority can consider economic and social factors when setting tolls, and said it has consistently used its power to keep tolls as low as possible for all users, and more recently particularly for Liverpool City Region residents.
Next week’s authority report also proposes changes to fares to multi operator tickets and Mersey Ferries, all in line with inflation to ensure those services remain sustainable.
The price of a MyTicket has been frozen since 2017 and will stay at £2.20 – remaining one of the cheapest child tickets in the country.
As previously announced, the £2 bus fare introduced by the Mayor, will remain until September 2025. Cross-river bus services remain capped at £2, a saving of £1.40.
The authority also emphasised that the region will continue to provide the most generous concessionary travel scheme outside London, with local residents receiving free travel passes at 60 – seven years ahead of the national scheme.
