TfL to trial advanced satellite toll system
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• by Guy Sheppard London's transport managers want to test a more advanced road tolling system followng the successful launch of congestion Charging in February.
Transport for London (Tfl) says replacing its existing camera-based system with satellite tracking would offer greater flexibility. Although it refuses to discuss how this would affect tolls, one option would be to vary them according to the time of day Or how much traffic is on individual routes.
"We said we would have liked to have gone along with the next generation of technology, but that has not yet been approved by government. Clearly, there are advantages in terms of having more 'flexibility about the type of journey you record."
However, he says there are no immediate plans to replace the existing system which is covered by a contract lasting at least seven years.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport says the Leeds trial will examine how gantries across reads can measure traffic flow and how a satellite and in-cab box can communicate with each other.
"ft is important to get right where a vehicle is travelling, a log of its journey and then pass on the right billing details.'
He adds: "We are trying to get an electronic billing system rather than a laborious postal one."