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Why did the removal of toll stations increase traffic on the Rhine River?

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Physical map of Western and Central Europe highlighting the drainage basins and networks of the Rhine, Rhone, and Seine rivers. The map shows river courses, major tributaries, canals, elevation changes with color shading, international boundaries, and key cities such as Paris, Lyon, Basel, and Rotterdam. A locator inset in the upper left corner places the main map within Europe.
Rhine River

The removal of toll stations increased traffic on the Rhine River by eliminating significant political impediments to free navigation. Historically, there were approximately 200 toll stations along the river, which acted as barriers to efficient trade and movement.1

Following the Congress of Vienna in 1815, these restrictions were removed, establishing the principle of free navigation. This policy change, later formalized by the Mainz Convention of 1831 and the Mannheim Convention of 1868, allowed for more seamless commercial transit, which was a foundational factor in the rise of modern navigation on the river.21