Tyne Tunnel goes cashless amid payment glitch

About 5% of drivers using the Tyne Tunnel on Monday were double charged

Vehicles travelling through the Tyne Tunnel can now drive through the toll booths after they turned cashless.

Cameras will automatically register journeys and payment can be made through a pre-paid account or before midnight the following day.

However, a technical glitch early on Monday saw about 5% of drivers double-charged for their journeys, while others were unable to use the TT2 app.

Congestion was also reported caused by a "small number" of drivers.

Operator TT2 said those who were double charged had been identified and were being recredited.

"The issue has been fixed and this problem will not reoccur," a spokesperson said.

A toll-booth collector leaving before the start of a strike in 1989

People have been asked to use its website while the new app is being rolled out.

Traffic monitoring service Inrix reported queues on the A19 northbound of up to half an hour following the changes.

TT2 also confirmed it would not return to the eight-lane system, with two lanes now being used to drive through the tunnel without stopping.

"Changing a tolling-system that has been in operation for many decades, will naturally take drivers some time to get used to," the operator added.

"The majority of travellers adjusted to the new system without any problems and congestion had eased before 10:00 GMT."

'Scrambling around for change'

Phil Smith, chief executive of the tunnel operator, called it an "historic moment" in modernising the tunnels.

The Tyne Tunnel was opened by the Queen and Prince Philip in 1967

He said "gone are the days of scrambling around for change and waiting in queues".

TT2 said about 70% of tunnel users already had a pre-paid account and fewer than 20% paid with cash.

It has promised faster journeys, saving 1,944 hours a week in queuing time, and a resulting 90% reduction in CO2 emissions, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Those opting to pay later have until midnight the following day to pay online, by automated telephone or at PayPoint tills in shops.