Blackwall Tunnel And Silvertown Tunnel Charge

Let’s talk about tunnels. Specifically, two famous ones under the Thames in London.

You know the Blackwall Tunnel. It’s a legend.

It opened in 1897 for horse-drawn carriages. Yes, horses.

Now, it’s a traffic nightmare. But a charming one.

People love to hate it. It’s like a grumpy old friend.

Then comes the newcomer: the Silvertown Tunnel.

It’s brand new. It will open in 2025.

And it will charge you money. A lot of it.

That’s the fun bit. The drama.

Why a Toll? Seriously?

Here’s the quirky truth: the Blackwall Tunnel was always free.

Free for 120 years. Free for horses, cars, and lorries.

Now, they’re slapping a charge on both tunnels.

Why? Because of a secret rule: pollution.

When you drive under the river, you pump fumes into the air.

The new tunnel has modern fans. The old one... does not.

So, they want to reduce cars. The charge is the weapon.

The Quirky Numbers

For a small car, the fee will be around £4 per trip.

Peak times? Double that. Maybe £8.

For a lorry? You might cry: £10 or more.

But wait—here’s the funny part: motorcycles are free.

Yes, if you ride a bike, you win. No charge.

Also, electric cars get a discount. But not zero.

So if you drive a gas-guzzler, you pay the most.

It’s like a carbon tax wrapped in a tunnel.

The Old Tunnel’s Quirks

The Blackwall Tunnel has two bores. One for each direction.

The southbound bore is tiny. Built in 1897.

It’s so narrow, you can touch the walls from your car.

Large lorries cannot use it. They must go northbound.

That lane is wider. It opened in 1967.

Still, it’s a squeeze. Drivers hold their breath.

Fun fact: the tunnel is curved.

It bends like a snake under the river.

You cannot see the end. It’s a blind curve.

That’s why speed is limited to 30 mph.

But nobody goes that fast. It’s always jammed.

The New Tunnel’s Party Trick

Silvertown Tunnel is a twin-bore marvel.

It’s fully modern. Huge. Bright. No horses.

But it has a secret weapon: bus lanes.

Cyclists and pedestrians are banned. Sorry, no walking.

Only cars, buses, and vans. And they all pay.

But the buses get a discount. Public transport wins.

That’s the master plan: force you onto a bus.

The Politics of Paying

Locals are furious. “Why pay for something that was free?”

The government says: “It’s for cleaner air.”

But critics say: “It’s a money grab.”

Here’s the twist: the tunnel cost £2 billion.

Someone has to pay for that. You.

So you’re funding a new tunnel you might not use.

That’s either clever or cruel. You decide.

Funny Details You Didn’t Know

During construction, workers found Roman pottery.

Yes, ancient Romans dug near here. Two thousand years ago.

Also, the Blackwall Tunnel has a ghost story.

Some say you can hear a horse’s hooves at midnight.

Probably not true. But it’s fun to imagine.

And the new tunnel’s ventilation shafts look like giant mushrooms.

They’re 30 meters tall. Painted green.

Locals call them “the alien plants.”

The Big Question

Will you pay the charge? Or avoid the tunnel entirely?

You could use the Woolwich Ferry. It’s still free.

But the ferry is slow. And it breaks down in fog.

Or you could take the Dartford Crossing. That’s a toll too.

So you’re paying somewhere. Tunnels are expensive.

The bottom line: Blackwall gets a toll. Silvertown gets a price tag.

Both will be cashless. No coins. Only cameras.

You’ll get a bill in the mail. Like a parking ticket.

For a tunnel you drove through. Weird, right?

Why This Matters to You

If you live in London, this changes your commute.

Your GPS will reroute you. You’ll sigh a lot.

If you visit, you’ll pay a tourist tax to cross the river.

That’s the fun: it turns a boring drive into a financial choice.

“Do I pay £8 to save 10 minutes? Or do I sit in traffic for free?”

It’s a game. The tunnels are the board.

And everyone is a player. Even the horses.

So next time you hear “Blackwall Tunnel,” remember: it’s old, it’s cramped, and soon it’s not free.

And Silvertown? It’s shiny, expensive, and full of alien mushrooms.

That’s the story. Tunnels, money, and a little bit of magic.

Now go drive somewhere else. Or take a bus.