Business

EXTENDED LONDON BRIDGE RIVER SERVICE

15 April 2009

In addition to launching new river services from London Bridge, the Greater London Authority (GLA) have reported that Oyster 'pay as you go' will be available on most river commuter services by autumn this year, according to Business Initiative District, Team London Bridge.

London's pier owners, boat operators, borough councils and Transport for London (TfL) have agreed to sign up to a river Concordat led by the Mayor, which commits them to work together to improve ticketing, piers and passenger information.

On the 6 April, the Mayor announced the first substantial improvements as a result of the new partnership.
From November this year Thames Clipper services will be able to accept Oyster 'pay as you go', and from today they will also run a new direct service between Canary Wharf and London Bridge.

Tower Pier extention
TfL has agreed to fund an extension of Tower Pier to relieve the congestion caused by increasing numbers of river passengers.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: 'With the right mixture of investment and imagination river services can become a truly integral, as well as an extremely pleasant, part of the Capital's transport network.
'Oysterising the Thames as well as providing clearer signage to the piers and services available will make it much easier for Londoners to travel on the river.

'The Thames is also a vital part of the 2012 transport strategy and with the Games now so close the members of the Concordat fully realise the importance of making an Olympic effort to get our services and piers up to scratch.

Up to scratch
'When the world comes to London I want visitors to be able to glory in the beauty of our great waterway as they whiz between the centre of the Capital and Olympic venues at Greenwich.'
More than thirty organisations have signed up to the River Concordat including every borough that fronts the river, boat operators, pier owners, TfL, the Port of London Authority, the London Development Agency and London First.

They have agreed to focus on four areas of work:
Integration of the Thames into the transport system: including river services in the Oyster system will make them much easier to use. Signage will be improved at piers but also at railway stations to make it clear that sometimes it is easier to walk to the pier and take a boat rather than the Tube.

The 2012 Games: a full Olympic and Paralympic river service will be in place for the summer of 2012. This will ensure there are services to coordinate with the start and end of events and that piers are ready to cope with the influx of visitors.

Promoting and improving services: operators will make it clearer to Londoners and visitors what type of service will suit them best so that people can better distinguish between the fast ferries and leisurely cruises.

Infrastructure: Tower Pier will be extended by 2011 but opportunities to extend other piers, beginning in central London but eventually heading further east and west, will be explored with developers and pier owners.
For more information, visit: www.teamlondonbridge.co.uk

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