Wandsworth Council calls for more investment in river services
Councillors have called for new investment in river services to provide local residents and businesses with an alternative to crowded rail and tube journeys.
The campaign follows the success of the existing Putney-Blackfriars link which was extended in April to include a new stop at Riverside Quarter next to Wandsworth Park.
Cllr Jane Cooper, who chairs the council's passenger transport liaison group, said people who travelled to work by river were effectively using public transport, "While the case for investment and subsidy for bus and rail services is taken for granted, the same cannot be said for river services. The river is the poor relation in London's transport network. It needs to be seen as integral to the whole system so that it can be properly supported..
"You can already use your Oyster card to get a discount on the fare. Now Transport for London (TfL) must find ways of adding extra services so that more people can choose this sustainable form of transport. TfL already supports services to and from Canary Wharf. They now need to look upstream and target investment on the Putney-Blackfriars route. Travelling to work by river should be as commonplace as taking the train or jumping on a bus. With more commuter services on the river, this form of public transport could really take off."
The group highlighted a series of key areas for action:
* More frequent services - particularly at peak hours
* Extension of services further up-stream from Putney
* Investment in newer, larger craft - although current services are operated privately, the high cost of acquiring new boats limits the potential for further expansion
* Better integration at Blackfriars between services arriving from Putney and those leaving for Canary Wharf.
* Better passenger information at Blackfriars to promote the Putney service
The council will now meet with Thames Executive Charters and TfL to make the case for expanding existing river services. ..
July 7, 2007
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