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Yard
Advanced Contributer
Uzbekistan
5231 Posts |
 Posted - 23/05/2012 : 09:24:53
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If memory serves me well,were we led to believe that once the bridge was paid for the barriers were to be removed or am I dreaming it?
So what happens to the revenue from road tax,fuel duty,parking fines etc
Removing the barriers would free up the jams there at rush hour? |
Shut it and whack the poxy things!
www.vintagedrumyard.co.uk
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thebeaver
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1839 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 09:41:38
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Incredible that you've put this, because I saw something on here that made me almost post the same thing. Can't remember what post it was, maybe the same one that inspired you.
Thing is, they did say that, but that crossing paid for itself years ago. They wont do it. |
Tunbridge Wells Music School
www.twmusicschool.com |
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thebeaver
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1839 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 09:45:04
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| Oh! It was Gaz's "20 years ago today" post. He said that speed camera had paid for itself - which straight away made me think "yeah, so has that b@st4rd toll booth but they wont close that!". |
Tunbridge Wells Music School
www.twmusicschool.com |
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Allegro
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1525 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 10:08:58
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They are planning of removing the barriers......
and replacing it with a camera system, so they can still charge you for using the crossing |
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thebeaver
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
1839 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 10:13:39
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Reaaaally, is this true?!
Well at leased it will aid congestion. And I know there was concerns about the smog emerging over Dartford from all the cars being stationary there for so long.
Will undoubtedly raise them even more revenue by the fines they'll be dishing out when people forget to pay!! |
Tunbridge Wells Music School
www.twmusicschool.com |
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Yard
Advanced Contributer
Uzbekistan
5231 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 10:29:47
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I use it to get to Gatwick but it is chokka at peak times and you queue for miles.
The US and Canada use an E-Zee Pass stuck to the screen that logs your journey and charges your bank account automatically.
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Shut it and whack the poxy things!
www.vintagedrumyard.co.uk
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Captain Bubble
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
14622 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 12:21:57
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My concern with a system like E-Zee pass over here is that it will start with new-build roads, tunnels and bridges, then it will be gradually extended to all roads, bridges, tunnels, level crossings, County/City borders, and eventually even each time you pass a street light or road sign!
As far as I know roads, bridges, tunnels, lighting etc (new and maintenance) are paid for from various sources: Car Tax, Petrol tax, Income Tax, Tolls on New-Build infrastructure, local Council Tax and Business Rates. I think that the tax on fuel is fair as you pay for greater road use. It then seems silly to me to add the huge extra cost of all the technology to operate an E-Zee system when there are already established ways to generate the funds needed for the road network. |
Marcus de Mowbray
www.330studios.co.uk/marcus |
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Bazarre
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
7983 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 13:35:32
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The Dartford Crossing is a goldmine, not only for the government but for the fecking French company who manage it for them. (The French are certainly going for a full house here -- they own the electricity distribution companies, the water supply and sewage companies and most street lighting maintenance contractors in the south east already). The history of it's management is a disgrace from the time it was said that the tolls would be abolished (back in the 1970s that should have been) to the total disregard for the local environment as the traffic builds up week by week, year by year.
I've been using the Dartford Crossing for years, sometimes five days a week, sometimes only one day, but on average three days. The local Small Business Federation branch asked me if I would do an investigation into the real cost to me -- a small business, well, only me really. So I did -- and it worked out that the tolls are peanuts compared with the fuel and time wasted in the hold-ups. Even using a very modest hourly rate (nothing like an architect or plumber would charge) for my wasted time and on the worst occasions a shortened day meaning that I could miss a job and have to go back the next day, the annual cost was astonishing. I worked it out several ways but it always came back to the Dartford Crossing costing me £13000 to £14000 a year! That's just me, one person and one economical vehicle. Think what it costs the transport operators paying drivers to sit in hour long jams and all that Diesel fuel wasted. I helped in the campaign to lobby the local MP to get the booths removed and the charges scrapped. The evidence in favour of doing this was substantial. The MP made very agreeable noises at the time, but apparently was unsuccessful in parliament, if, indeed, he did try to do anything. |
Sex, magic and R n R! -- all in ZOLIN! now on Amazon for Kindle readers |
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OriginalAnimal
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
19300 Posts |
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Yard
Advanced Contributer
Uzbekistan
5231 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 14:10:26
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quote:
Originally posted by Captain Bubble
My concern with a system like E-Zee pass over here is that it will start with new-build roads, tunnels and bridges, then it will be gradually extended to all roads, bridges, tunnels, level crossings, County/City borders, and eventually even each time you pass a street light or road sign!
As far as I know roads, bridges, tunnels, lighting etc (new and maintenance) are paid for from various sources: Car Tax, Petrol tax, Income Tax, Tolls on New-Build infrastructure, local Council Tax and Business Rates. I think that the tax on fuel is fair as you pay for greater road use. It then seems silly to me to add the huge extra cost of all the technology to operate an E-Zee system when there are already established ways to generate the funds needed for the road network.
As you well know Marcus,it will come,but when?
The Councils work out your tax for the year but it is never enough according to them?
The revenue from road use must be huge but maybe used to prop up other mistakes and shortfalls?
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Shut it and whack the poxy things!
www.vintagedrumyard.co.uk
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dwpaddy
Advanced Contributer
Ireland
22527 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 14:26:23
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quote:
Originally posted by Yard
I use it to get to Gatwick but it is chokka at peak times and you queue for miles.
The US and Canada use an E-Zee Pass stuck to the screen that logs your journey and charges your bank account automatically.
Even little old Dublin uses this system for its toll roads.
If you don't use it often enough simply pay online same as TFL.
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DWP
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Captain Bubble
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
14622 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 15:53:41
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Yup Yard, it is bound to come, especially as the government is keen to privatise all roads. They will not manage it this time around, but by degrees it will happen. It interests me that Bangalore has become one of the world's greatest IT centres because it has excellent connections to the rest of India and the whole world because of the Indian Rail network. There are even mobile Hospital Trains which reach a huge number of remote towns and villages. They never had a Dr Beeching to savage their rail network and are reaping the benefits of looking after their rail network.
We could learn a lesson or two from them! |
Marcus de Mowbray
www.330studios.co.uk/marcus |
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Yard
Advanced Contributer
Uzbekistan
5231 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 16:26:21
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The Indian Railways are fabulous because the employees care and also,there are no leaves on the track!!
The hospital trains are a fantastic idea especially the ones used by the volunteer eye surgeons performing surgery and restoring sight to many,free of charge.
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Shut it and whack the poxy things!
www.vintagedrumyard.co.uk
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Captain Bubble
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
14622 Posts |
Posted - 23/05/2012 : 16:53:35
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| We do not really need Hospital Trains here because our country is so small, but I reckon if we HAD needed one, and if someone had suggested the idea of one over here, the Government would have contacted all its favourite pen-pushers: accountants, market analysts, cost analysts, marketing departments, advertising agencies, business consultants and all the rest of them. They would have come back with their usual answer: "It does not exist, therefore it has never done anything, therefore it has no market or usefulness, therefore we should not have one". |
Marcus de Mowbray
www.330studios.co.uk/marcus |
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meat2veg
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
8444 Posts |
Posted - 31/05/2012 : 08:39:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Yard
The Indian Railways are fabulous because the employees care and also,there are no leaves on the track!!
Lots of bodies, though. About 15000 people die every year crossing the tracks. |
The sooner we lose the smiley faces from this forum the better. |
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meat2veg
Advanced Contributer
United Kingdom
8444 Posts |
Posted - 31/05/2012 : 08:42:12
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Dartford Bridge has been in profit since 2004, by the way. I haven't found any official documenting of the proposal to drop the toll yet, but I remember that being said a lot when I was younger. Is it an urban myth, perhaps?
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The sooner we lose the smiley faces from this forum the better. |
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Yard
Advanced Contributer
Uzbekistan
5231 Posts |
Posted - 31/05/2012 : 09:01:59
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quote:
Originally posted by meat2veg
quote:
Originally posted by Yard
The Indian Railways are fabulous because the employees care and also,there are no leaves on the track!!
Lots of bodies, though. About 15000 people die every year crossing the tracks.
They need to be more careful!! |
Shut it and whack the poxy things!
www.vintagedrumyard.co.uk
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