Transport for LondonLondon River Services
This sought to develop new river piers and boat services, to create links between Central London and the New Millennium Experience Company site at North Greenwich in the short term, and to provide a longer term legacy of boat services and piers.
The CRP concluded that a new agency (provisionally titled the Thames Piers Agency) should be established to deliver the key elements of the initiative, and to take long term responsibility for developing river passenger transport in London.
Its immediate objectives would be to procure the New Millennium boat services, and to secure the development of new piers at Blackfriars and Waterloo to provide dedicated berths for these services.
In the longer term, it would also acquire the public piers owned and operated by the Port of London Authority and develop, promote and co-ordinate riverboat services on the Thames whilst integrating them as much as possible into other transport modes.
What is London River Services?
London River Services (LRS) licenses passenger services using Transport for London's (TfL) eight piers. These services fall into two categories:
- Scheduled services: operating on a regular time-tabled basis
- Charter services: typically used for corporate or private parties
What does it do?
LRS is accountable for the integration of river transport with the rest of the public transport network.
This is being achieved through carefully considered signs and passenger information. LRS has also integrated riverboat services into TfL's other forms of passenger information systems (e.g. maps and the Travel Information Service).
As part of the Mayor's Transport Strategy, LRS is currently examining the viability of developing other piers. It is also looking at extending services, improving regularity and frequency, and introducing new services.
LRS financially supports the Thames Clippers riverbus service which operates between Savoy (Embankment) and Masthouse Terrace piers with certain journeys extended to Greenwich and Woolwich Arsenal. The riverbus Monday to Friday peak frequency has recently been enhanced to operate every 15 minutes.
A new pier has been constructed at Millbank close to Tate Britain. A river boat service will operate from this pier calling at Waterloo and Bankside, near the Tate Modern.
In a move to improve integration with other TfL services, Travelcard holders are able to purchase tickets at a third discount on the advertised adult or child fare on most normal riverboat services.
To improve accessibility for the mobility impaired, a Ramp Rider has been installed at Greenwich pier to facilitate access to the pier pontoon from the land at low tide. All LRS' piers are now accessible and step-free at all states of the tide.
Most of the newer river craft have dedicated wheelchair spaces and step-free access to and from boats is now available at most piers.
