How much did London’s Ulez cameras earn from drivers? Evening Standard podcast

London’s ultra low emission zone was launched in April 2019 to help clean up the city’s air (Yui Mok/PA)
PA Wire
Mark Blunden @_MarkBlunden|Ross Lydall @RossLydall|Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter
1 November 2023

The Ultra Low Emission Zone was expanded across the capital up to boundaries of the North and South Circular roads.

Now, about £26 million has been earned from more than 57,000 daily vehicles - but what’s the extra money being spent on?

Transport for London says Ulez expansion has cut the number of older, more polluting vehicles driven by nearly half, and reduced the overall amount of traffic - but is not releasing air quality data for a year.

The £12.50-a-day levy for vehicles not meeting emissions requirements is enforced by a network of surveillance cameras ringing the capital - which have seen attacks to cut them down by vandals dubbed ‘Blade Runners’ - and Ulez refuseniks can expect a £180 fine.

Plus, In part two, Evening Standard podcast joins transport editor Ross Lydall for the latest on plans to close up to 1,000 railway station ticket offices which have been sensationally axed by the Government.

The Department for Transport says there are 100 million fewer ticket office transactions now compared to a decade ago, but there was a public backlash against closure plans revealed in a consultation.

London TravelWatch says train firms failed to fully address all passenger concerns over closures.

You can read more on the government’s railway ticket office closures U-turn here.

Listen above, find us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you stream your podcasts.