Industry News

VIC TRANSPORT COSTS – WEST GATE TUNNEL PROJECT OPENING & TRANSPORT COST IMPACT

With the completion and imminent opening of the West Gate Tunnel Project, all major Victorian transport carriers have now issued formal advisories confirming that new toll charges and routing requirements will apply to heavy-vehicle movements across Melbourne.

Across the industry, carriers have outlined the following key impacts:

New Toll Charges Introduced

Once the tunnel becomes operational, new tolls will apply to trucks travelling to and from the Port of Melbourne and across Melbourne’s western, northern, and south-eastern suburbs.
Each carrier has published updated toll structures, and although the specific figures differ between operators, the consistent message is that all heavy vehicles using the new tunnel network will incur additional, unavoidable charges.

Routing Restrictions in the Inner West

New restrictions will apply on several inner-west roads (e.g., Francis St, Somerville Rd, Buckley St), requiring transport operators to divert to authorised routes. This may impact travel times, distance, and operating costs.

Industry-Wide Implementation

The notices we have received from multiple partners confirm that these changes are being applied across the Victorian transport market. The effective date will align with the official opening of the West Gate Tunnel, which is expected to be publicly announced shortly.

How this affects TCF customers?

Because each customer is located in specific zones and suburbs, the impact varies from client to client.

For this reason, TCF will not publish universal toll figures, but instead:

• Apply the appropriate carrier toll structures to each customer’s existing transport zones
• Update affected charges in line with the new industry-wide requirements
• Provide revised rates to customers on request or where a change directly affects their service lane

Our team is currently reviewing all VIC movements and will ensure all rate adjustments are implemented accurately.

Need updated rates or clarification?

If you would like to understand how the new tolls affect your specific deliveries, please contact your usual TCF representative and we will provide an updated rate review based on the current transport operator carrying your containers.

We appreciate your cooperation as the  transport industry transitions to this major infrastructure change, and we will continue to keep you informed as further details are released.