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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Sir Tigger KC on 06 September 2015, 09:28:35

Title: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 06 September 2015, 09:28:35
Mornin' Chaps!  :)

By what time in the morning can you usually get a clear run through the tunnel northbound?  ???  TIA :y
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Nick W on 06 September 2015, 09:54:29
There's normally a twenty second long window at 10:58 8)

A less sarcastic answer is that you can't rely on a clear run at anytime of the day. It's better than it used to be, but long tailbacks are still common.

Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 06 September 2015, 10:07:45
Hmmm OK so I probably should allow half an hour to my journey to take account of the tunnel?  :-\
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: zirk on 06 September 2015, 12:37:05
You can never tell with that Place, Google Maps with Traffic enabled is your best bet.  ;)
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: 05omegav6 on 06 September 2015, 16:08:00
Where are you heading to? Presuming your journey also involves the M3, so might actually be better off going over the top :y

Before anyone says that's daft, the A3-M11 is the same distance going left or right :y
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Lazydocker on 06 September 2015, 18:26:38
Where are you heading to? Presuming your journey also involves the M3, so might actually be better off going over the top :y

Before anyone says that's daft, the A3-M11 is the same distance going left or right :y

It is indeed... Plus, if heading towards East Anglia, M11 a A120 is far more pleasant to drive than the A12
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Lazydocker on 06 September 2015, 18:27:53
As Nick says, no guarantees but it is much, much better. Generally keep moving now, just slower. Remember that it is now a "Congestion Charge" and there is no way to pay at the crossing, it must be done online.
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 06 September 2015, 20:58:03
I'm off to Narfick!  :)  But I'm staying at a mates in Dorking tomorrow night, hence going round the bottom otherwise I'd go round the top or up the A34 to Oxford then across Noofland.  ;)

As Nick says, no guarantees but it is much, much better. Generally keep moving now, just slower. Remember that it is now a "Congestion Charge" and there is no way to pay at the crossing, it must be done online.

Thanks LD didn't know that!  ::)  :y
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Lazydocker on 06 September 2015, 21:41:21
I'm off to Narfick!  :)  But I'm staying at a mates in Dorking tomorrow night, hence going round the bottom otherwise I'd go round the top or up the A34 to Oxford then across Noofland.  ;)

As Nick says, no guarantees but it is much, much better. Generally keep moving now, just slower. Remember that it is now a "Congestion Charge" and there is no way to pay at the crossing, it must be done online.

Thanks LD didn't know that!  ::)  :y

Search for Dart Charge :y
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: amba on 07 September 2015, 12:24:39
Avoid between 7.00 am and 9.30 am,but as others have advised its a total lottery as I  have hit traffic at 4.00 in the morning and 11.00 at night.

Wonders of traffic managment  :(
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: the alarming man on 07 September 2015, 13:51:47
yes it is a lottery I went through tunnel at 10.00am and on way back 10.45 traffic going through tunnel was static

Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 07 September 2015, 13:52:37
I'm off to Narfick!  :)  But I'm staying at a mates in Dorking tomorrow night, hence going round the bottom otherwise I'd go round the top or up the A34 to Oxford then across Noofland.  ;)

As Nick says, no guarantees but it is much, much better. Generally keep moving now, just slower. Remember that it is now a "Congestion Charge" and there is no way to pay at the crossing, it must be done online.

Thanks LD didn't know that!  ::)  :y

Search for Dart Charge :y

OK so I've paid my £2.50 toll online.  Thanks to LD for the heads up on that.  :y

2 things have occurred to me though....

1)  What happens when a Bumpkin like me just turns up expecting to pay cash?   ???   :-\

2) It's all done through the GOV.UK website so is yet another way of tracking us!  ::) 
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: the alarming man on 07 September 2015, 14:44:57
there are no toll booths anymore so has to be paid at selected pay station(where you can pay gas bill/charge electric keys) or as you have done on line...p.s you do get cheaper crossing with an account
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Lazydocker on 07 September 2015, 18:31:22
there are no toll booths anymore so has to be paid at selected pay station(where you can pay gas bill/charge electric keys) or as you have done on line...p.s you do get cheaper crossing with an account

Just as well... Even with the discount I can spend over £150/month on it!!!! :o :o
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 08 September 2015, 00:17:14
there are no toll booths anymore so has to be paid at selected pay station(where you can pay gas bill/charge electric keys) or as you have done on line...p.s you do get cheaper crossing with an account

Ah OK so if I just turned up and sailed on through without paying in advance, I'd get a nice penalty notice in the post shortly after?  ::)
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Nick W on 08 September 2015, 01:27:31
You have until midnight the following day to pay.
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: the alarming man on 08 September 2015, 10:50:03
there are no toll booths anymore so has to be paid at selected pay station(where you can pay gas bill/charge electric keys) or as you have done on line...p.s you do get cheaper crossing with an account

Ah OK so if I just turned up and sailed on through without paying in advance, I'd get a nice penalty notice in the post shortly after?  ::)


again that is a lottery as their ANPR system does miss a small number of vehicles.... as I have just looked at my account and as of yet they have only charged me for one crossing......
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Lazydocker on 08 September 2015, 17:58:16
there are no toll booths anymore so has to be paid at selected pay station(where you can pay gas bill/charge electric keys) or as you have done on line...p.s you do get cheaper crossing with an account

Ah OK so if I just turned up and sailed on through without paying in advance, I'd get a nice penalty notice in the post shortly after?  ::)


again that is a lottery as their ANPR system does miss a small number of vehicles.... as I have just looked at my account and as of yet they have only charged me for one crossing......

Funnily enough, I looked at my account and had several crossings missing... Figured they would pop up eventually ::)

Rumour has it that they are currently issuing warnings (that look like a bill)
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 12 September 2015, 10:14:43
Well that was quite easy in the end.  ::)  I got there at about 10.30am ish on Tuesday morning and the traffic was flowing nicely and I drove straight through with no hold ups.  :y

As someone who is unfamiliar to the area however, I didn't think it is made clear that you have to pay the toll online.  I use the Severn crossing regularly where you only pay on the west bound carriageway, so I think I might have assumed that the toll for the Dartford crossing is paid on the southbound side.  :-\   and had a nice surprise in the post a few days/weeks later.  ::)
Title: Re: Dartford Crossing
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 12 September 2015, 20:26:31
I do wonder what the older generation make of it.

I must say I was far too impressed with the automatic phone voice recognition doodah. It was like voodoo!