Silvertown Tunnel to open in April in bid to improve Thames crossing

9 January 2025 Ray Bonsall

East London’s new Thames crossing is nearly here but concerns over charges and cycle crossings linger.

The new Silvertown Tunnel connecting Newham with the Greenwich Peninsula will open on 7 April 2025, Transport for London (TfL) announced this week.

The tunnel has been designed to alleviate congestion at the Blackwall Tunnel, which they say will result in faster journeys at busy times as well as improved air quality with the Victorian era Blackwall Tunnel “not built for today’s high traffic volumes”.

Plans for the tunnel have come under criticism however due to a proposed user charge, which is also being implemented at the Blackwall Tunnel. A petition against the charge has reached over 42,000 signatures.

Charges and discounts

Once the new tunnel opens charges will apply at both tunnels from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. Peak rates of £4.00 for cars, £6.50 for large vans and £10.00 for heavy goods vehicles will apply during rush hours on weekdays (6 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 7 pm). Lower off-peak charges, which cover all hours of the weekend, are £1.50 for motorcycles and cars, £2.50 for large vans and £5 for heavy good vehicles.

A  50 per cent discount will be available for low-income drivers in Tower Hamlets for at least three years as well as a £1 discount on the standard off-peak charge year for small businesses, sole traders and charities registered in the borough for at least one year. There is a 100% charge exemption for blue badge holders.

Buses and bikes

Cycling and walking will not be permitted in the Silvertown Tunnel, as will remain the case at Blackwall Tunnel.

Instead, a new shuttle bus service will allow cyclists to cross Silvertown Tunnel with stops located at Seagull Lane (north stop) and Millennium Way (south stop). There will be 5 buses per hour between 06:30 and 21:30, every day (no service on Christmas Day).

The shuttle has been criticised by cycling campaigners however as many predict that the lane won’t be desirable to London’s cyclists due to hostile entry roads, shuttle wait times and no guarantee of a free or existing service after the initial 12 months.

The Silvertown Tunnel will have a bus lane which, unlike the height-restricted Blackwall tunnel, will provide a crossing for double-deck buses and larger HGVs. Bus journeys on cross-river routes serving Tower Hamlets will be free for at least one year after which the policy will be reviewed. Across both tunnels, 21 buses an hour will cross the river (7 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday). These include the SL4 and extended route 129 through Silvertown, and the existing route 108 through the Blackwall Tunnel. 

TfL says that the new tunnel will result in the regeneration of areas surrounding the tunnel. They also say that the tolls will be used to cover the tunnel’s £2bn construction cost and will go towards its maintenance.

If you liked this read Petition to scrap Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnel tolls grows to over 37,000

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