Faster More Frequest River Services From 2nd April
With real time boat information available at Putney Pier
River Bus services from Putney will more than double from 2 April, following the appointment of KPMG Thames Clippers as the new operator of the Putney to Blackfriars route.
KPMG Thames Clippers will offer faster journey times and more frequent River Bus services offering two thirds more services on weekdays on modern, fully accessible, high speed catamarans.
The new contract secures the service, which is used by hundreds of Londoners every weekday, and is the result of close collaboration between the Mayor’s office, TfL and Wandsworth Council.
Real time boat arrival information called iBoat will shortly be rolled out at the piers on this section of the river, making travelling even more convenient. Real time arrival information will also be available via a number of mobile phone apps meaning customers will be able to time their arrival at the pier in perfect time to catch the next River Bus service.
KPMG Thames Clippers will also bring Oyster to the route, meaning passengers can use Pay as You Go to pay for their fares. There will also be a reduced fare for passengers with Travelcards. For regular passengers there is a range of competitive season tickets available on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis.
In order to make the route fully accessible, essential improvement work is to be carried out on a number of piers on the route, partially funded by Wandsworth Council.
Andy Thompson, Head of London River Services, said:
“KPMG Thames Clippers are a well established operator of River Bus services so they bring with them a wealth of knowledge and understanding. The enhanced and faster services will benefit the many hundreds of passengers who use this route every day. With improved integration with other River Bus services I am sure more people than ever will make the most of what the river has to offer.”
Leader of Wandsworth Council, Councillor Govindia, said:
"This is fantastic news for our riverside communities. Travelling by boat is a great way to get across the city and the faster, more frequent timetable will help to take the pressure off other transport services. We have long argued that the Thames can play a much bigger role in helping to meet London's transport demands. The new service is an important step forward and plans for two new piers along Wandsworth's stretch of the riverside would open up the service to even more local people in the years ahead."
Richard Tracey Assembly Member for Putney residents and the Mayor's River Ambassador told PutneySW15.com: "This is the announcement which many people along the riverside in Wandsworth, Putney, and Battersea have been waiting for. From my conversations and from emails I have received over the past few years, there appears to be a whole now cohort of river commuters and leisure travellers waiting to climb aboard the boats. With the promised new pier at Plantation Wharf, close by Wandsworth Bridge and Battersea Square, the prospects will be completed."
Amended timetable as at 7th March:
February 25th 2013