M50 Toll Scheme/Removal of Westlink
20th September, 2007
A key component in the NRA's M50 improvement strategy is the removal of the WestLink toll plaza and replacing it with an electronic barrier-free tolling system that will allow drivers to travel unencumbered at the legal speed limit along the M50.
In addition to the removal of Westlink toll plaza, the M50 mainline expansion and creation of free-flow interchanges will continue, but to facilitate the transition from barrier tolling to the new electronic tolling system by August of 2008, a new statutory toll scheme is required, which will amend the existing toll arrangements.
Specifically, the amendment will….
- Current rates will be adjusted by inflation (CPI) as of January 2008 from €1.90 to €2.00.
- State pricing structure for new electronic barrier-free tolling system.
- Identify alternative methods of payment for drivers without electronic tags who choose to use registered vehicle number plate accounts.
- Identify alternative methods of payment for drivers without tags or registered vehicle number plate accounts.
The new toll scheme is designed to facilitate and offer lower tolling costs if a vehicle utilises an electronic tag.
The electronic tag is a small electronic device, about the size of a mobile phone, which is fixed to the inside of the front windscreen of the vehicle. For specific offers and how to get your own electronic tag please click here.
Background Information
Description of electronic barrier-free tolling
Steel gantries will be erected over the motorway, spanning over the four lanes of each carriageway. There will be no toll plaza or any physical barrier on the road. Cars can travel at normal motorway speeds under the overhead gantries. These gantries will contain all of the vehicle detection and camera equipment required to record the vehicles passing under the gantries. A computer based system linked to the National Vehicle and Driver File then provides the owner details for any vehicles who don't have electronic tags or who haven't a pre-registered payment account.
Location of Toll
The new toll scheme proposes one single tolling point which will be located on the section of the M50 between the N3 (Navan Road) and N4 (Galway Road) Junctions, adjacent to the current WestLink plaza. When it becomes operational, it will replace the existing WestLink toll plaza, which will be removed.
Car Tolls
The car tolls, in line with (CPI), under the new scheme for electronic barrier-free tolling are:
Cars with an electronic tag account €2.00 per journey
Cars with a number plate account, but without tag €2.50 per journey
Cars without either a tag or number plate account €3.00 per journey
Key Points of Proposed Toll Scheme
- People who don't currently have electronic tags can register with any of the five existing operators - details on NRA website http://www.nra.ie/News/eToll/ In addition, the NRA will itself offer a tag service from early next year;
- People who don't wish to have an electronic vehicle tag but who wish to set up a payment account based on the recording of their number plates can, from early next year, register with the NRA's M50 Operator. Whenever they make a journey on the M50, their number plate details will be recorded and the relevant payment debited from their account.
- For people who choose not to have electronic tag accounts or number plate based accounts, the registration number of the vehicle will be recorded when they make a journey along the tolled section of the M50. They can make payment in advance of the journey, on the day of the journey or up to 8.00pm on the day after the journey by any of the following means:
o On-line over the internet;
o Through the 24 hour telephone contact centre being set up by the NRA;
o Through a bill pay system in approx. 2,000 shops and garages.
TOLL CHARGES From August 2008
Vehicle equipped with an Electronic Tag
Vehicle Pre-registered for Number Plate based Payment Account
All Other Vehicles
Euro (€)
Euro (€)
Euro (€)
Cars 2.00
2.50
3.00
Buses and small commercial vehicles up to 2 tonnes 2.80
3.30
3.80
Commercial vehicles between 2 and 10 tonnes 4.10
4.60
5.10
Commercial Vehicles above 10 tonnes 5.10
5.60
6.10
For further information contact
Sean O’Neill, Head of Communications, 01 6602511, soneill@nra.ie