The Burntwood Blog

Owners of the M6 Toll, Midland Expressway Limited, have announced price changes for users of the motorway along with new services for customers. From now on, anyone using the road will have a choice of tariffs and extra services, but the price for using the road will increase slightly. Speaking of the changes, MD Rob McFluff stated..

“I firmly believe that the M6 Toll is an immense success and we’re easing congestion for road users. However, our own figures show that the the level of traffic on the M6 Toll has dropped in the last year, so we want to do something to address that. Although this does mean further price increases, we’re hoping that our extra services will attract further custom to the road.”

From next Tuesday the M6 Toll will increase the cost to normal car owners through the main plaza to £10 per journey. This, however, will include a free windscreen clean when you enter the booth and an inclusive bottle of Evian. A “No Frills” option will also be available at £8 per journey, but you will be restricted to driving on the hard-shoulder, which will be coned off from the main carriageway.

“We’ve found that the hard shoulder is pretty pointless”, said Mr McFluff whilst detailing the new payment option, “If you can afford to drive on the M6 Toll then you’re probably driving a new car that won’t break down anyway, so we’re going to fill up that particular lane with people of limited income – it’s a bit like steerage on the Titanic. If they break down then we’ll ask everyone behind to push the car out of the way – or they can upgrade to the normal £10 per-journey price.”

Critics have condemned the price hikes, which come in the midst of a global recession. Midland Expressway have hit back, with Public Relations office Mick Glop stating..

“You’re paying nearly £5 to go up it and nearly £4 for a local booth already. Who’s the mug? It’s not us, we’re loaded.”

Other payment tariffs include the “Sport” pack, which allows unlimited speeds in the outside lane for £15 per journey. This has caused outrage amongst safety groups, with some calling the move “insane” and “immoral”. We questioned Mr McFluff on this matter. He responded by saying…

“We’ve conducted a study on traffic moving along the M6 Toll and found that 80% of cars are travelling at more than 85mph, with three-quarters doing more than 90mph. Whilst performing this research we also spotted an Aston Martin doing 145mph – you should’ve seen it, I thought all the other cars were parked up”

“We’re introducing this premium price-plan for those wishing to use the outside lane. We’ll then use £2 of the profit to fund extra speed humps on roads near to the Toll, thus slowing traffic on competing roads.”

Midland Expressway Limited have plans to implement even more “special Toll Tariffs”, including a special £25-per-journey plan where drivers can pull over at either end of the Toll and have a member of staff drive their car to the other end. This, it is said, will allow the driver to sleep or perform work on their laptop or mobile phone. “We have other plans on the drawing board for tackling our dropping traffic numbers”, stated Mr McFluff, “These include a £25 drive-and-gamble tariff with inclusive gaming at our newly opened Casino in the services and more”.

Current prices for the M6 Toll, which works out at around £9.40 for a return trip through the main plazas in a car, is available here.