TfL aims to double Thames passengers with £10m initiative

Date: 25/2/2013

The Mayor of London has unveiled a £10 million initiative designed to almost double the number of commuters using transport on the River Thames by 2020.

Aiming to attract 12 million passengers a year by the end of the decade, a (TfL) Transport for London announcement revealed plans to build three new piers to support the scheme.

Contactless wave and pay ticketing will be introduced to improve the efficiency of new and existing services, while real-time arrivals information is expected to be rolled out this summer.

"The River Thames played a major part in the success of a momentous 2012 and I am determined to capitalise on these achievements and safeguard the river's central role in the future achievements of our great city," said Boris Johnson.

"That is why I have set a target to increase passenger journeys on the Thames to 12million a year by 2020 and to maximise its potential for high quality river travel with the building of new piers and even better facilities."

TfL figures show that passenger numbers on river services have increased by more than 25 per cent in the past four years, up from 5.3 million 6.6 million, and the organisation estimates that new homes and businesses along the river will increase demand in the future.

Mike Weston, TfL's Operations Director for Surface Transport, said: "This is an exciting chapter for the Thames, with more and more people already using the river to commute to work or for leisure trips."

Mr Weston added that improving river travel will make services more attractive, while the Mayor is hoping to incorporate the Thames more closely with the capital's wider transport network as signage, information boards and ticketing facilities are all brought up-to-date as part of the project.  

Work on the first of the three new piers is expected to be begin at Plantation Wharf in Battersea this year, while planning permission has been granted for piers at Battersea Power Station and Enderby Wharf.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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