Tag firm withdraws toll plaza service

COMMUTERS – perticularly business travellers – who regularly drive between Dublin and Kerry could face disruption following the news that eFlow is withdrawing its tag service at the motorway toll plazas. THIS is as a result of Transport Infrastrucutre Ireland (TII), the state agency which operates the eFlow tolling system, failing to agree new collection contracts for three toll roads run by private operator Celtic Roads Group (CRG). Talks to reach an agreement on the matter have been ongoing for 24 months but have now broken down.

CRG – the building consortium that runs the toll plazas – announced on Thursday that eFlow is withdrawing its tag service as of August 31 from the toll plazas at the M1 near Drogheda, the M7/M8 south of Portlaoise and the N25 at Waterford.

More than two million vehicles use CRG toll plazas on a monthly basis.

From August 31 the barriers will no longer lift for eFlow customers and theywill have to stop and pay at the pay booths. as CRG staff will no longer be allowed accept eFlow tags as payment.

CRG is recommending that eFlow tag holders carry some cash to deal with this situation.

“We understand that this action by eFlow will inconvenience many of our customers particularly those who use the eFlow tag service. However, this action is beyond our control. CRG has offered significantly higher payments to eFlow but simply cannot meet what is being demanded without negotiation,” said a CRG statement.

“We deeply regret the likely disruption and inconvenience to all our CRG customers. We really want to resolve the issue but at the moment we cannot meet the TII demands. We remain in contact with TII / eFlow and continue to encourage them not to withdraw their service from their customers,” said CRG General Manager Lorcan Wood.

“The service switch-off decision is entirely out of our hands at the moment. However, we believe it is important for motorists to be aware of the threat of disruption caused by this issue. Customers can use the time available now to arrange the solution most suitable for them,” he added.

CRG said customers who favour using a tag to pass through the toll plazas now have until August 31 to make alternative arrangements.

The website etoll.ie provides a full list of tag provider options that are still available to motorists.