Thames Clippers

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is a set of river bus services on the River Thames in London, England.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
London River Services
LocaleLondon, England
WaterwayRiver Thames
Transit typeRiver bus and tourist/leisure services
OwnerNorthleaf Capital Partners
Began operation24 May 1999 (1999-05-24)
No. of lines4
No. of vessels20
No. of terminals24
Websitewww.thamesclippers.com
Thames Clippers logo, pre-Uber partnership

The company operates both commuter services between eastern and Central London and tourist services under licence from London River Services. At present they transport around 10,000 passengers daily on average.

Company

Sean Collins co-founded Thames Clippers in 1999 with partner Alan Woods as Collins River Enterprises. Thames Clippers was then taken over in September 2006 by the American Anschutz Entertainment Group,[1] who promised substantial investment into the company to upgrade the services and to provide a more frequent "hop-on-hop-off" between Central London and The O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome), also owned by the Anschutz Entertainment Group. In 2007 the company purchased six new catamarans to be used on the commuter service in order to carry a large number of passengers in a comfortable environment. In 2015 and 2017, a total of four new 'Hunt Class' catamarans were purchased for use primarily on the RB6 Service.[2]

In July 2020, the company announced a partnership with U.S.-based ride-sharing service Uber, which acquired naming rights to the ferry and rebranding the service as Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.[3][4][5][6]

In April 2022, global private markets investment firm Northleaf Capital Partners (“Northleaf”) acquired a majority interest in Uber Boat by Thames Clippers from AEG, promising to bring new investment to support the company's plans to deliver sustainable growth, enhanced infrastructure and greater economic development on and around the River Thames.[7]

Tickets

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers operate under licence from Transport for London. The river boat service is now better integrated into the tube and bus ticketing network. From November 2009, Thames Clippers services started to accept Oyster pay as you go on all of its services, which also provides a discount on single and return fares. Contactless payment is also accepted.[8]

A River Roamer ticket, valid for one day, is available from Thames Clippers which allows the holder to hop on and hop off along the banks of the Thames between Putney Pier and Barking Riverside Pier (including the Canary Wharf - Rotherhithe Ferry). The cost is £21.00 for an adult and £42.00 for a family. An adult single trip fare changes depending on zones. They range from £5.20 to £14.70 (or £4.80 to £13.50 if payment is made online, in app or with an oyster or contactless card).[9] There is a one third discount for holders of valid travelcards (excluding Family River Roamer tickets and fares for The O2 Express).

Special river service season tickets, valid for either 1 week, 1 month, or 1 year, are also available. Discounts for travelcard holders are also available on season tickets. Carnet tickets are also available via the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers tickets app.

Park and Glide tickets are also available which grant access to the car park at The O2, and the River Bus.

Commuter services

RB1

During weekday mornings and evenings & throughout the weekend the service runs from Westminster in the west to Barking Riverside in the east. On weekday daytimes between the peak hours the service is truncated and serves piers between Battersea Power Station and North Greenwich. The service runs every 20 minutes during the day, and every 30 minutes in the very early morning and evenings. Stops from west to east:[10]

PierZoneInterchangesService notes
Battersea Power StationCentralLondon Underground Battersea Power StationWeekdays during off-peak only
Vauxhall (St George Wharf)CentralLondon Underground National Rail VauxhallWeekdays during off-peak only
MillbankCentralWeekdays during off-peak only
WestminsterCentralLondon Underground Westminster
London Eye (Waterloo)CentralLondon Underground National Rail WaterlooEastbound only
EmbankmentCentralLondon Underground Embankment
BlackfriarsCentralLondon Underground National Rail BlackfriarsPeak hours only
BanksideCentralLondon Underground National Rail Blackfriars
London Bridge CityCentralLondon Underground National Rail London Bridge
TowerCentralLondon Underground Tower Hill Docklands Light Railway Tower Gateway National Rail Fenchurch Street
Canary WharfCentral and EastLondon Underground Canary Wharf Docklands Light Railway Canary Wharf Elizabeth line Canary Wharf
Greenland (Surrey Quays)EastLondon Underground London Overground Canada WaterWeekdays only
Masthouse TerraceEastDocklands Light Railway Mudchute
GreenwichEastDocklands Light Railway Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich
North GreenwichEastLondon Underground North Greenwich
Royal WharfEastDocklands Light Railway West SilvertownWeekday mornings and evenings & weekends only
Woolwich (Royal Arsenal)EastDocklands Light Railway National Rail Woolwich Arsenal Elizabeth line WoolwichWeekday mornings and evenings & weekends only
Barking RiversideEastLondon Overground Barking RiversideWeekday mornings and evenings & weekends only

RB2

The service runs all day on weekends between Putney and North Greenwich. Stops from west to east:[11]

PierZoneInterchangesService notes
PutneyWestLondon Underground Putney Bridge National Rail Putney
Wandsworth Riverside QuarterWestNational Rail Wandsworth Town
Chelsea HarbourWestLondon Overground National Rail Imperial Wharf
Battersea Power StationCentralLondon Underground Battersea Power Station
Vauxhall (St George Wharf)CentralLondon Underground National Rail Vauxhall
MillbankCentral
WestminsterCentralLondon Underground Westminster
EmbankmentCentralLondon Underground Embankment
BanksideCentralLondon Underground National Rail Blackfriars
London Bridge CityCentralLondon Underground National Rail London Bridge
TowerCentralLondon Underground Tower Hill Docklands Light Railway Tower Gateway National Rail Fenchurch Street
Canary WharfCentral and EastLondon Underground Canary Wharf Docklands Light Railway Canary Wharf Elizabeth line Canary Wharf
Greenland (Surrey Quays)EastLondon Underground London Overground Canada Water
GreenwichEastDocklands Light Railway Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich
North GreenwichEastLondon Underground North Greenwich

RB4
Main article: Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe Ferry

Thames Clippers operates the direct cross river Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe Ferry, between Canary Wharf Pier and the Doubletree Docklands Nelson Dock Pier at the DoubleTree Docklands in Rotherhithe. The service uses smaller boats than the commuter service but runs at a higher frequency of every 20 minutes and every 10 minutes during peak times. The ferry can be used by guests of the hotel free of charge as well as by passengers not staying at the hotel at a cost.[12][13]

PierZoneInterchanges
Canary WharfCentral and EastLondon Underground Canary Wharf Docklands Light Railway Canary Wharf Elizabeth line Canary Wharf
Doubletree Docklands Nelson DockEast

RB6

This service runs on weekday mornings and evenings between Putney and Canary Wharf. Stops from west to east:[14]

PierZoneInterchangesService notes
PutneyWestLondon Underground Putney Bridge National Rail Putney
Wandsworth Riverside QuarterWestNational Rail Wandsworth Town
Plantation WharfWestLondon Overground National Rail Clapham Junction
Chelsea HarbourWestLondon Overground National Rail Imperial Wharf
CadoganWest
Battersea Power StationCentralLondon Underground Battersea Power Station
Vauxhall (St George Wharf)CentralLondon Underground National Rail Vauxhall
MillbankCentral
WestminsterCentralLondon Underground Westminster
EmbankmentCentralLondon Underground Embankment
BlackfriarsCentralLondon Underground National Rail Blackfriars
BanksideCentralLondon Underground National Rail Blackfriars
London Bridge CityCentralLondon Underground National Rail London Bridge
TowerCentralLondon Underground Tower Hill Docklands Light Railway Tower Gateway National Rail Fenchurch Street
Canary WharfCentral and EastLondon Underground Canary Wharf Docklands Light Railway Canary Wharf Elizabeth line Canary Wharf

Trial service to Gravesend

In September 2017, Thames Clippers ran a trial commuter service between Gravesend and Central London.[15]
On 4 November 2022, Thames Clippers announced that they had completed the purchase of Gravesend Town Pier, with an aim to operating long-term River Bus services from the pier within the next 2–3 years.[16]

Visitor/tourist services

Tate to Tate

The Tate to Tate is a ticketed leisure service between the Tate Modern at Bankside Pier and the Tate Britain at Millbank Pier. Passengers travel on the RB1 service on weekdays and the RB2 at weekends. Tickets can be purchased from the Tate galleries in addition to standard options.[17]

The O2 Express

The O2 Express is an express service from North Greenwich Pier calling at London Bridge City Pier, London Eye Pier and Battersea Power Station Pier. The service also provides private charters.

Fleet

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers operates a fleet of 20 vessels.[18]

NameLengthPassengersTypeBuilderBuiltAcquiredImage
Earth Clipper38m182Hunt Mk IV HybridWight Shipyard20232023
Venus Clipper38m220Hunt Class Mk IIIWight Shipyard20182019
Jupiter Clipper35m172Hunt Class Mk IIWight Shipyard20172017
Mercury Clipper35m172Hunt Class Mk IIWight Shipyard20172017
Galaxy Clipper35m150Hunt Mk IIncat20152015
Neptune Clipper35m150Hunt Mk IIncat20152015
Aurora Clipper38m220River Runner 200 Mk IIB 'Typhoon Class'BSC Marine20082008
Meteor Clipper38m220River Runner 200 Mk IIB 'Typhoon class'BSC Marine20082008
Cyclone Clipper38m220River Runner 200 Mk IIB 'Typhoon Class'BSC Marine20072007
Monsoon Clipper38m220River Runner 200 Mk IIB 'Typhoon Class'BSC Marine20072007
Tornado Clipper38m220River Runner 200 Mk IIB 'Typhoon Class'BSC Marine20072007
Typhoon Clipper38m220River Runner 200 Mk IIB 'Typhoon Class'BSC Marine20072007
Hurricane Clipper38m220River Runner 200 MkII (prototype)NQEA20012001
Moon Clipper32m138River Runner 150 Mk IINQEA20012005
Sun Clipper32m138River Runner 150 Mk IINQEA20012005
Sky Clipper25m62FBM HydrocatFBM19921999
Star Clipper25m62FBM HydrocatFBM19921999
Storm Clipper25m62FBM HydrocatFBM19921999
Twinstar Clipper19m120Class V ?19762004
Comet Clipper ?12Executive Launch ? ?2019Used on DHL logistics[19]
Orion Clipper ?12Executive Launch ? ?2016

Accidents

On 2 May 2004, a woman was killed after she was hit, while waiting for a boat, by a mooring bollard which had come loose from the Star Clipper at St. Katherine's Pier.[20]

On 4 October 2011 at 7pm, the Moon Clipper hit the Tower Millennium Pier when it was carrying about 50 people. Four people were injured.[21]

On 5 December 2016, the Typhoon Clipper collided with the workboat Alison, resulting in the sinking of the workboat. The two crew members on the workboat were taken to hospital.[22]

Expansion

A Policy Exchange report from 2010 advocated significant expansion in river services on the Thames. The aim of the report is to lead to a "river tube line" being created which would lead to easing of current congestion on London's transport systems, and better quality of travel, at a significantly cheaper price than other options. Opponents note that the river capacity, especially at low tide could mean a reduction of tourist boats (especially at peak commuter times), and turn the Thames into an urban highway which would be detrimental to London. To be feasible, the report calls for better management of river traffic, improved interchange with other public transport modes and expansion of key piers.[23]

The Mayor of London is responsible for the River Concordat group,[24] which is made-up of over forty different organisations including Thames Clippers. The publication, By the River,[25] sets out the strategic vision for improving river transport on the Thames.

They plan to expand further east down the river start with a calling at a pier in Silvertown in October 2019 and plans in the future to go to Thamesmead and Barking.[26]

In 2017, Thames Clippers and London Resort made a deal for the provision of Clipper services between Central London and the proposed theme park located on the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent.[27] The Thames Clipper services are also planned to operate between the theme park and a park & ride car park located on the north side of the River Thames in Tilbury Docks. These services are scheduled to start operation when the theme park opens in 2024.[28]

Cyclone Clipper in new Uber branding

Sponsorship

The first company to enter a partnership with Thames Clippers was NatWest in 2008. The boats were reliveried in black sponsorship stickers displaying the NatWest and Thames Clippers Logo. KPMG won a three-year sponsorship deal in 2011 and sponsored the clippers during the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.[29] In August 2014, MBNA the bank holding company signed a three-year sponsorship deal with Thames Clippers, and introduced a better ticketing system.[30] In June 2020, American company Uber entered a new partnership with Thames Clippers whereby they won naming rights to the service. As of 2020, the service has been rebranded as "Uber Boat by Thames Clippers".[31]

References
  1. "Money". Telegraph.co.uk. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  2. Capital Clippers, Ships Monthly, March 2016, pp. 42-45
  3. Keane, Jonathan. "Uber Is Setting Sail On The Thames With Its Latest Transport Gambit". Forbes. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. "Uber to launch London commuter boat service with Thames Clippers". Msn.com. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  5. Lekach, Sasha (9 July 2020). "Uber Boat takes over London commuter ferry for water rides". Mashable. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. "Uber Boat by Thames Clippers". thamesclippers.com. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  7. "Northleaf Capital Partners acquires majority interest in Uber Boat by Thames Clippers | Northleaf Capital". www.northleafcapital.com. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  8. "News in Canary Wharf | InYourArea". Wharf.co.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  9. Thames Clippers. "Thames Clippers fares". Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
  10. "Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Timetable effective from 29 July 2023" (PDF). Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  11. "Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Timetable effective from 29 July 2023" (PDF). Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  12. "Directions to Doubletree Hotel London Docklands - Hotel and Area Map". 3.hilton.com.
  13. "Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Timetable effective from 29 July 2023" (PDF). Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  14. "Uber Boat by Thames Clippers Timetable effective from 29 July 2023" (PDF). Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  15. "MBNA Thames Clippers trials boat commute from Gravesend to London". Kentonline.co.uk. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  16. "London's leading River Bus service takes ownership of Gravesend Town Pier". Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  17. "Tate Boat". Tate.org.uk. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  18. "Meet the fleet". Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.
  19. "DHL now delivers on the river". Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.
  20. "Woman 'killed by mooring bollard'". BBC News. 18 February 2005. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  21. "Thames riverboat crashes into Tower Millennium Pier". BBC News. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  22. "Collision between a passenger vessel and a workboat - News stories". Gov.uk. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  23. "Policy Exchange - Shaping the Policy Agenda" (PDF). Policyexchange.org.uk.
  24. "By the river : Greater London Authority". Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  25. "By The River" (PDF). April 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  26. "How MBNA Thames Clippers wants to roll out river ferry services across east London". InYourArea.co.uk. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  27. "Deal struck to provide MBNA Thames Clippers service to £3.2bn London Resort in Swanscombe". GravesendReporter.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  28. "London Resort Company Holdings Team up with MBNA Thames Clippers". SouthParks.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  29. "KPMG sponsors new fleet of Thames Clippers". Londonlovesbusiness.com. 23 September 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  30. Bold, Ben (21 August 2014). "Credit card firm MBNA signs three-year Thames Clippers deal". Campaignlive.co.uk.
  31. Rob (8 July 2020). "London commuter boats to be renamed Uber Boat under a new sponsorship deal!". Headforpoints.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
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