Transurban toll charge overhaul to save drivers dollars

MELBOURNE drivers are set to save on road trips with the operator of CityLink slashing unpopular charges. A new app will also let occasional drivers use the road without an e-TAG. Fees that will be changed revealed.

MOTORISTS in Melbourne are set to save on trips, with Transurban to slash a range of its unpopular charges.

The tolling company will today announce an overhaul of its system to bring it into the 21st century.

CityLink accounts will now be rebranded as Linkt accounts and feature a new website and app to match the change.

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The app will allow drivers to pay tolls without an e-TAG and instead use GPS technology to help occasional users pay their tolls immediately.

The operator will also cut back on additional charges levied at new and recurring customers. The minimum annual payment of $27.50 will be dropped along with tag-holder fees valued at $3.50.

Transurban will also reduce the vehicle-matching cost, charged every time a customer without an e-TAG is tolled, from 75c to 55c.

It comes after reports last week Transurban collected $147 million nationally in 2016 by charging fees for image matching, replacing e-TAGs and pursuing unpaid tolls.

Group Executive for Victoria, Wes Ballantine, said the changes showed the company was working to respond to feedback from motorists.

“We’ve recently given the road a makeover with new lanes, landmark lighting and enhanced incident response, and now Linkt will bring new benefits, too,” he said.

“We’ve listened to customers and have been working over the last few years to ­introduce technology and system changes that will make things simpler and easier for people who use CityLink.

“We’ve made fee-free travel even more accessible with the reduction and removal of a number of fees to help people keep their costs down.”

Mr Ballantine said the new LinktGO system would make trips easier for less-frequent users such as interstate visitors and motorists from the coast, with more improvements under way.

“We have launched an online tool that compares travel times and trip costs using live traffic data to help people decide whether using a toll road is the best choice for them, and we’ve improved our hardship efforts to support those who may be struggling to pay their tolls,” he said.

Mr Ballantine said the rebranded system would also make it easier for drivers to use both CityLink and the West Gate Tunnel.

“CityLink changed the face of Melbourne by connecting our city,” he said.

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