Future of Thames Clippers gets green light till 2013

A DEAL has been signed which guarantees Thames river services from Greenwich to Woolwich Arsenal keep going on for four more years. The �270,000 agreement was announced today by City Hall to continue subsidising the Thames Clipper service

By Mike Brooke

A DEAL has been signed which guarantees Thames river services from Greenwich to Woolwich Arsenal keep going on for four more years.

The �270,000 agreement was announced today by City Hall to continue subsidising the Thames Clipper service between the O2 venue on the North Greenwich Peninsular and the Woolwich Arsenal pier until 2013.

Both Transport for London and Greenwich Council are putting up the cash to subsidise the Thames Clipper commuter run, which means the current levels of service between the QEII and Woolwich are being kept.

"Our campaign this year showed the support for a regular riverboat service," said Greenwich Council leader Chris Roberts. "The service is proving to be an increasingly popular alternative with commuters."

The route was originally subsidised by City Hall, Greenwich Council and Berkeley Homes developers in June, 2005, but the contract ended in January.

Now a new deal has been agreed which has secured the river service until 12 months after the 2012 World Olympics being staged in East London.

London Mayor Boris Johnson signed a River Concordat in April with Thames boat operators to promote more river services. City Hall also plans 'pay-as-you-go' Oyster cards for river commuters by the end of the year, like the buses and Underground.