Traffic and pedestrians on Oxford Street where the congestion charge is in place, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Transport for London has decided to get rid of the Congestion charge for eight days over Christmas to help Londoners travel to see their close family and friends.
The break from drivers paying the congestion charge will span from the 25th of December until the 2nd of January.
This comes as figures from the RAC show that last year 21 million people were expected to be driving across the country between the 18th and 24th of December, but the congestion charge will still be in place all the way until Christmas Day. This means that anyone driving at that time will still have to pay the £15 a day charge to drive in London. As well as this the ULEZ charges will be in force on every day except the 25th of December.
However, will this actually help Londoners?
Russell Pink is just one of many who is planning on driving in London over this Christmas period. He lives in West London and has said that he had his wife made the decision to buy a car because ‘getting hire cars and the cost of trains were just so expensive’ especially over the festive period.
He further stated that the congestion charge ‘is there for a good reason’ but also thinks that it does not work. He says that London is still consistently full of cars despite the charges for driving in London.
Mr Pink also said that he is impacted heavily by tube and train strikes, ‘there aren’t many other connections’ in the part of London he is from if trains do strike. The move comes just as RMT confirmed announced strike action on the Elizabeth Line on New Years Eve. As per usual, the London Underground will not be running on Christmas Day.
TFL released a press release detailing their plans over the Christmas period. They wrote, ‘There will be some planned works and closures that will affect the London Overground, the Elizabeth line and DLR. There will be no service on most public transport on Christmas Day and reduced or no services on some parts of the network on Boxing Day with special services on New Year’s Eve.’
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HeadlineWill the eight-day break from congestion charges actually benefit Londoners?
Short HeadlineTFL announce eight-day break from congestion charge
StandfirstAnnounced on Tuesday, the break will be from the 25th of December to the 2nd of January.
Transport for London has decided to get rid of the Congestion charge for eight days over Christmas to help Londoners travel to see their close family and friends.
The break from drivers paying the congestion charge will span from the 25th of December until the 2nd of January.
This comes as figures from the RAC show that last year 21 million people were expected to be driving across the country between the 18th and 24th of December, but the congestion charge will still be in place all the way until Christmas Day. This means that anyone driving at that time will still have to pay the £15 a day charge to drive in London. As well as this the ULEZ charges will be in force on every day except the 25th of December.
However, will this actually help Londoners?
Russell Pink is just one of many who is planning on driving in London over this Christmas period. He lives in West London and has said that he had his wife made the decision to buy a car because ‘getting hire cars and the cost of trains were just so expensive’ especially over the festive period.
He further stated that the congestion charge ‘is there for a good reason’ but also thinks that it does not work. He says that London is still consistently full of cars despite the charges for driving in London.
Mr Pink also said that he is impacted heavily by tube and train strikes, ‘there aren’t many other connections’ in the part of London he is from if trains do strike. The move comes just as RMT confirmed announced strike action on the Elizabeth Line on New Years Eve. As per usual, the London Underground will not be running on Christmas Day.
TFL released a press release detailing their plans over the Christmas period. They wrote, ‘There will be some planned works and closures that will affect the London Overground, the Elizabeth line and DLR. There will be no service on most public transport on Christmas Day and reduced or no services on some parts of the network on Boxing Day with special services on New Year’s Eve.’
