toll charges on sydney motorways,

reynolds · Newbie

toll charges on sydney motorways,

Possum3 · Guru

Ted, I'm sure we all agree with your sentiments but; Hell will freeze over before the private companies (Banks) that operate the tollways let this cash cow go. To have the impost changed you would need to start with a petition, if one is organised - I would sign it.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Ted, enjoy here and out in the playground.

Sorry mate but I agree with Possum. No way known to mankind will they change their mind. The charge, as unfair as it is, is it. It's there to stay and nothing you or 1000's of us can do will change it.

I will use it even though I don't like it but it's the easiest way for me to get through Sydney with the aluminium tent in tow. It's only twice a year for me.

I wouldn't even be surprised if other states follow the same.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Valkie · Veteran Member

Not me. I'll tow my rig through Sydney In peak hour In the middle of the week At a slow safe speed Just to show them I'm not happy. If enough do it, they will get really really annoyed And think if it's worth a few Bob to hold up Sydney.

Valkie · Veteran Member

Saved myself $120 approx by ignoring the tollway going to Katoomba a few weeks ago.

Saved myself $140 approx by ignoring the tollway going to Canberra last week

Plan to continue to save money ignoring the toll way at every opportunity.

These crooks charge stupid money so you can drive a few klm on an overpriced bit of blacktop.

But I guess the senior public servants who approved the rip off have to get their brown paper bags from somewhere.

Are We Lost · Guru

Valkie wrote:
Not me. I'll tow my rig through Sydney In peak hour In the middle of the week At a slow safe speed Just to show them I'm not happy. If enough do it, they will get really really annoyed And think if it's worth a few Bob to hold up Sydney.

If you did that, all you would achieve is more disgruntled motorists choosing tollways, and feed more money to Transurban.

A couple of years ago a petition was organised and the NSW Roads Minister was going to "look into it".

RV Daily article on tolls (annoying that their articles are undated)

I recollect something more recently but can't find it. With Transurban unlikely to give up this profit windfall, the NSW government (taxpayers) would have to foot the bill.

I suppose you are aware that NSW residents with a toll account can claim the excess charge back.

PAJ32 · Newbie

Valkie wrote:
Saved myself $120 approx by ignoring the tollway going to Katoomba a few weeks ago.
Saved myself $140 approx by ignoring the tollway going to Canberra last week
Plan to continue to save money ignoring the toll way at every opportunity.
These crooks charge stupid money so you can drive a few klm on an overpriced bit of blacktop.
But I guess the senior public servants who approved the rip off have to get their brown paper bags from somewhere.

Gee, those prices are harsh!

I will be looking out & avoiding them if I ever get out that way also.

I live in Adelaide, have towed a very large 2,500 kg trailer through the Melbourne toll roads & they did not charge any extra,

I checked to see what it would cost me before I went through with Linkt.

rmoor · Senior Member

Reckon I have not paid a road toll in 20 years?
WILL NOT be towing thru Sydney or any other city ever if I can manage that.
Too stressful city driving.
Recently retired but home only 300 metres from my office allowed for a great quality of life.
I have often thought it will be a sad day if they ever put tolls on our Western and/or country roads everywhere.
Don't rule it out I guess.
Spoke to a coupe of mates still working this morning and they said they are keen to do the Cape and Kimberley's before the lot gets shut down or everything becomes commercialised overnight.
With all that is going on recently, one cannot discount anything.

Possum3 · Guru

When the electric cars proliferate and there aren't petrol taxes to raid there will be tolls blossoming on all arterial roads, just as sure as Sh1t in a cat.

Are We Lost · Guru

rmoor wrote:
WILL NOT be towing thru Sydney or any other city ever if I can manage that.
Too stressful city driving.

But that is the point of using the tollways .. less stress. From Newcastle all the way through Sydney there is not a single intersection, roundabout or traffic light for the whole way when using the tollroads. In fact I think it is all the way to Melbourne as well. So if city driving is stressful, just pay for the tolls.

But when going through Sydney I skip the most expensive part (North Connex tunnel) as that is almost 40% of the cost of the entire trip. It only takes 5-10 minutes longer to use Pennant Hills Rd for that part. The other 60+ kilometres is worth it.

The entire trip from north to south is a little over $20, or $12+ if omitting North Connex. Triple those rates if you are assessed as heavy vehicle (over 12.5M or 2.8M high). However as a NSW resident I can claim the excess cost back. For those who can't claim it back it is an expensive trip. But skipping that expensive section and travelling the 60+ kilometres on motorway for under $40 may be more palatable. Just travel during the middle of the day avoiding peak times and it is a breeze.

-- Edited by Are We Lost on Wednesday 2nd of August 2023 02:48:14 PM

rmoor · Senior Member

I take the point the tollways can be useful.
But from my geographical location I can access 6 bordering states and territories without needing to go thru a major city.....
Hence have absolutely No intention of driving through a city. With or without van.
I like my nice quiet (potholed) bush roads !!!!!

Redjo · Member

Hello all;
We travel through Sydney using toll ways(tunnel) each year on our way from Qld. to Tassie and return; we have approached our toll provider and explained that we are not a commercial vehicle (LC 200 with 22'6 caravan)and have received a rebate from the toll provider; it's just a matter of making contact with the provider and requesting a rebate, it works for us each time; just be polite and patient they worked out the difference and paid the rebate within days of our request.
Kindest Regards
Redo

Possum3 · Guru

Welcome to the Forum Redjo.

Why should the imposition of reclaiming toll theft be put back to motorists?

The sophisticated computerised camera systems have the AI to determine the difference between a mobile phone and a hamburger, the colour of a lady's knickers up under her skirt - they can definitely distinguish between a caravan/trailer and a B-Double articulated lorry. The fact is (as in Robodebt), they don't care about being open and honest so long as they can extort monies.

Whenarewethere · Guru

I live on Sydney Northern Beaches, we just go around the tolls. A bit like avoiding parking meters etc & parking a bit further away. At least I can walk, but I do have to let other half off closer first. Save thousands a year otherwise would have to pay $58 per week in parking fees.

Even Bunnings in Artarmon charges parking when one wants to escape Wifey for too long. You can't win!

PAJ32 · Newbie

Whenarewethere wrote:

I live on Sydney Northern Beaches, we just go around the tolls. A bit like avoiding parking meters etc & parking a bit further away. At least I can walk, but I do have to let other half off closer first. Save thousands a year otherwise would have to pay $58 per week in parking fees.

Even Bunnings in Artarmon charges parking when one wants to escape Wifey for too long. You can't win!

Reminds me of this.....

-- Edited by PAJ32 on Thursday 3rd of August 2023 10:47:26 AM

-- Edited by PAJ32 on Thursday 3rd of August 2023 10:48:45 AM

-- Edited by PAJ32 on Thursday 3rd of August 2023 10:51:02 AM