Mersey Tunnel toll increase confirmed with new prices in force from 2025

A rise in the price of crossing the Mersey Tunnels next year has been confirmed. Members of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA) have signed off on an increase in the price of the tolls for the Queensway and Kingsway tunnels that connect Liverpool and Wirral underneath the River Mersey.

Earlier this year, the cost of making a single journey for a class 1 vehicle – which includes most cars – through the tunnels rose from £2 to £2.10 after the changes were green lit by leaders at Mann Island. Tariffs are now rising again from the new financial year in April.

As a result, the Class 1 cash toll will rise by 20p to £2.30 from the Spring. Class 2 vehicles – such as lorries and trucks – will rise from £4.20 for a single journey to £4.60. Class 3 vehicle tolls will rise from £6.30 to £6.90 and the costs for Class 4 vehicles will increase from £8.40 to £9.10.

If you are a Liverpool City Region resident and have a T-flow account, this currently gives drivers a discounted rate of £1.40 for a single journey through the tunnels. Under the proposals this price will rise by 10p to £1.50 from next April.

The Combined Authority also proposes changes to fares to multi operator tickets and Mersey Ferries, all in line with inflation to ensure those services remain sustainable. The price of a young person’s MyTicket, which allows all-day unlimited bus travel for under-19s will stay at £2.20.

The Combined Authority says the Queensway and Kingsway tunnels require millions of pounds of investment each year to keep them open and safe and that maintenance and electricity costs have increased in recent years, with the latter costing £2m a year. All emergency service vehicles will remain free to pass through the tunnels, as will the lift on charges between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

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Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Despite the current authorised rate being £2.80, we’ve tried to find a delicate balance between increased running costs, the necessary investment that we need, continued improvement and treasury management.” Combined Authority leaders also confirmed an increase in ferry ticketing for the next financial year.

Fares for a single journey will increase by a “modest” 10p to £3 and 20p to £4 for a return after no increase for two years. A report before the CA said: “Major works at Seacombe terminal over the past few years are now complete which had an impact on the number of commuters using Mersey Ferries, however with a number of campaigns and improved service reliability, patronage figures of those who choose to use Mersey Ferries as a commuter option has remained steady.”