The M6 motorway in the United Kingdom has adopted an advanced closed toll system, replacing the previous open toll model that included main stations and ramps. This new system, which integrates trunk toll plazas with barriers and payment identification methods, as well as multi-lane free-flow toll points, promises to significantly improve toll management and efficiency.
The innovative system, implemented by Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) with SICE technology, incorporates 16 free-flow toll points at all entry and exit points. This project encompasses comprehensive toll products ranging from the conventional toll system to the commercial back-office, including the advanced Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) module, the operational back-office system with trip reconstruction capability (TOS), and a Graphic Client for real-time monitoring of the project’s equipment status.
The back-office solution, both commercial and operational, is hosted in a cloud environment, following a successful data migration from the old system to the new one. The transition to the new toll system on the M6, led by SICE, began with the migration of the back-office system and customer database, followed by the gradual integration of all conventional toll lanes into the new system using an innovative parallel system that prevented traffic disruptions. Subsequently, the free-flow gantries began operating, controlling the entry and exit points to record drivers’ journeys.
This hybrid system, which combines conventional tolling and free-flow tolling in a single solution, is the first of its kind in the country and stands out for its unique characteristics worldwide. Since its implementation, it has exceeded the client’s key performance indicators, processing over 19 million individual passages and constructing 7 million trips in four months, with an average daily traffic of 50,000 vehicles.
The implementation of this advanced toll system on the M6 reflects SICE’s commitment to technological innovation and continuous improvement in traffic management, providing an efficient and modern solution for toll collection in the United Kingdom.
