About this bus gate
Southbound, entire length, enforced 24/7. Restricted to local buses, taxis and authorised vehicles.
Camera enforcement here began on 27 July 2015, and the camera operates all day, every day.
Transcribed from Newcastle City Council’s response to Freedom of Information request 26698, dated 13 August 2026.
Who can use it
- Local buses
- Taxis
- Authorised vehicles
Not permitted
- Cars
- Vans
- Private hire vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Pedal cycles
Where exactly is it?
High Level Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne. View on Google Maps →
Got a PCN from this camera?
Don't panic, and don't ignore it. Pay £35 within 21 days to halve the charge — or if the signage was unclear, the details are wrong, or you had a genuine reason to be in the lane, consider challenging it first. Our step-by-step appeal guide covers the grounds that actually win.
Frequently asked questions
What are the operating times of the High Level Bridge bus gate?
The High Level Bridge Bus Gate in Newcastle upon Tyne operates 24 hours a day, every day. There is no time of day when general traffic may use it.
How much is the fine for driving through the High Level Bridge bus gate?
Newcastle City Council issues a Penalty Charge Notice of £70, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. There are no penalty points — it is a civil penalty.
Who is allowed to use the High Level Bridge bus gate?
Local buses, taxis and authorised vehicles are permitted. Not permitted: cars, vans, private hire vehicles, motorcycles and pedal cycles.
Can I appeal a PCN from the High Level Bridge bus gate?
Yes, and it costs nothing. Make formal representations to Newcastle City Council first — the authority that issued the PCN has to consider them before it can enforce the penalty. If Newcastle City Council rejects them it must issue a Notice of Rejection, and you can then appeal free to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Its adjudicators are lawyers independent of the enforcing authority, and their decision is binding on both sides. This bus gate operates 24 hours, so "I was outside the operating times" is not open to you — the grounds that win here are that your vehicle was exempt, that the details on the PCN are wrong, or that the approach signage did not give enough warning before the point of no return. It is worth doing: Newcastle City Council accepted 41% of the 5,232 formal challenges it received in 2025/26, and of the 24 that went on to the tribunal, 1 succeeded (figures from its own FOI response). Note that paying the £35 discounted rate accepts liability and closes the case, so challenge before you pay.