The Freight Transport Association of Ireland (FTAI) has told operators of heavy goods vehicles to take advantage of the one month ‘toll holiday’.
Answering Parliamentary Questions on Tuesday October 1) Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Travel and Sport – Leo Varadkar confirmed the details of the 30 day ‘toll-holiday’ trial which is to take place in November 2013 across a number of routes including the M1, M3, M6 and the Limerick Tunnel.
Based on feedback the Minister had received he has chosen these routes, and cited examples of roads where it was thought large numbers of HGVs were avoiding the costs of tolls; the M1 outside Drogheda; the M3 motorway from Dublin to Kells; the M6 from Ballinasloe to Galway and the Limerick Tunnel
Minister Varadkar previously said: “I have asked the National Roads Authority (NRA) to look at the feasibility of lifting tolls for heavy goods vehicles for one month on one or more motorways across the country, as a trial. By trialing a toll free month on these routes I want to see if HGV operators can be persuaded to use the motorways more.”
FTA Ireland is urging its members and all freight operators to make full use of the toll routes whilst they are free-of-charge to HGV users. FTAI is encouraging its members to use the opportunity in order to measure costs by comparing fuel usage and time saved when their vehicles are travelling on the normally tolled routes rather than back-roads.
Tom Wilson, FTA Ireland General Manager stated: “FTA Ireland believes that freight operators should take full advantage of using the named tolled motorway roads for free. Freight operators could benefit hugely in saving fuel costs, journey times and vehicle wear and tear, and the opportunity of a month’s toll-holiday is one that they shouldn’t ignore.”