M6 Toll Road - Part 2

Used the road on the way up to the Lakes, first impression was a nice road,
sorry a nice "fast" road.

Couldn't really welly it because of the tank bag and backpack, and saved 29
miles off the journey.

Now, on the way back, no tank bag and backpack, bloody hell, I could easily
seen how fast the gixxer went as there was next to no traffic but
unfortunately I had to stop for fuel and when I got out, there was more
traffic, so didn't carry on.

Would I use it again? Yes, because of the milage saved and that I didn't
have to look at Brum, otherwise I would probably have to stop twice to fill
up.

 

I find that amazing, if you look at a map, it's impossible to see where
you'd save that. Both sections of the M6 there look about the same
length.

 

Agreed. I think it's only a couple of miles difference , and certainly not
29.

It's the time saved rather than the distance that makes it worthwhile (if I
can claim it on expenses)

--
Alex

Hermes: "We can't afford that! Especially not Zoidberg!"
Zoidberg: "They took away my credit cards!"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk
www.sffh.co.uk
www.ebayfaq.co.uk

 

A local (to the area) lurker emailed me and told me it's actually
longer than the M6 route.

I think they're both the same, to within a mile.

M6 Toll to M6 Toll on the M6 is 28 miles according to:
http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/6.shtml

M6 Toll end to end is 27 miles according to:
http://www.cbrd.co.uk/motorway/6toll.shtml

Either which way, I think the OP has failed to take into account that
if the original route is 28 miles and his new route is 27 miles then he
saves a mile, not 29 miles.

<belms>

 

I took a slight detour than normal on the M25 (compared to way up) on the
way home, and the milage was 311 (at home). Normally without toll road it is
330.[1]

[1] Done this trip many times over 15 years.

 

So that's 19 miles anyway. And obviously not all in the Toll section
then?

 

Per mile it's the most expensive toll road in Europe.

riccip

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, riccip

Disgusting. If the toll was set directly from Brussels, we'd be much
better off.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

I used the old M6 through Brum twice yesterday and saved seven pounds.
The toll road doesn't save any miles at all.

The matrix signs need some interpretation.
"Toll road clear" means that the old road is clear.
"M6 congestion between J4 and J5" means that you might slow down a bit
but it will only delay you by a minute.

 

Apparently our Brussels masters are applying pressure to force
the M6 toll into line. At last! I might see something back for
the £252 my household pays directly into EU coffers every year.

But hang on. The EU wants to "regulate" our tolls, so the
Dartford Crossing, which I use more often, would go up.

riccip

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, riccip

<examines keepnet>

Yeuch!

<throws it back>

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - Manufacturer of the "Champion-105" range of rearsets
and Ducati Race Engineer.

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (On its hols) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Yamaha GTS1000

 

Same here. Tried it once for novelty and that's it.

On two wheels there's never much delay. On four it's just during
rush hours. Those "congestion" signs are switched on almost
permanently during daylight hours, even when there's no delay
whatsoever. Even the road layout is carefully designed to funnel
you directly onto the toll road unless you keep your wits about
you. As a consequence you see some dangerous swerving back onto
the M6 when drivers suddenly realise what's happening.

riccip

 

Benny proposed

You didn't leave that tank bag on a bus in London though, did you?

 

Just to add that Brussels is insisting VAT be levied on all
tolls, backed by the European Court (no surprise there).
Currently British toll charges for roads and bridges are not
subject to VAT. However, when the EU VAT-model is adopted it now
seems certain that VAT would have to be put on all charges
(including the London Congestion charge). Not only that but also
the EU is demanding that these taxes should be passed to Brussels
retrospectively for the last 6 years plus interest (a second
report suggests 4 years).

The London Congestion charge would become £5.87 with VAT
(commuters will pay an extra £209 pounds annually). Remember also
that the "success" of the LCC means it will be spreading to
cities across the country over the next few years so with VAT you
can expect fees of around £1500 p/a for the privilege of getting
to work.

The M6 Toll Road, the Severn and Forth bridges, the Saltash
bridge, and the Dartford Crossing will all be affected. In
Dartford's case 50 million vehicles a year use it and 6 (or 4)
years back-tax on that lot will be hefty sum running into
£££-billions. The Humber bridge which is barely viable would
probably face financial disaster and if charges were passed on to
motorists this would mean that the increase would fall foul of
British law which limits increases in tolls to the rate of
inflation.

Should that occur it's possible the European Court might rule in
Britain's favour but on past experience don't hold yer breath!

riccip

 

riccip scribbled:

But its a very nice road. Bugger all traffic on it, no bloody
roadworks, traffic jams or Birmingham. Winner all round!

And the £3.50 or £2.50 toll if you use it late, is peanuts really.

 

riccip scribbled:

So we'll really see a return on that investment then...

Should never have built the bleeding Channel Tunnel, what good is
Europe for apart from getting to other places through it?

 

tallbloke scribbled:

I don't think they are. When I went up it I never saw 1 using it (must
have been many 100s in the equivalent M6 stretch). On way back I saw 1!

 

Maybe just at peak times when the M6 is chokka.

 

Or the complete and utter doughnut who parked on the white lines
deciding which road to take. Then proceeded to pull back into the lane
I was hemmed in on. In a great gurt white van. Cue much skidding,
flashing of headlights and copious horn.

Cheers

Paul.

 

Shite, makes you mad when that happens but you come to expect it
in that area after a few hairy moments. As you know the majority
M6 through-traffic is shoe-horned into 2 lanes while 3 virtually
empty lanes run to the toll booths. Ridiculous.

http://tinyurl.com/du6qh

They *should* have done it so there's a slip road to opt for the
toll road, but then even less ppl would use it. Why should they
worry about a silly thing like motorway safety?

riccip