Port of London Authority Newsletter - Issue 02

Launched in February 2013 by The Mayor and Transport for London (TfL), along with members of the River Concordat, the plan aimed to double the number of river passengers to
12 million by 2020. And recently released figures show numbers already stand at a record 8.5 million
– a jump of two million on 2012.

More plans in the pipeline are designed to further boost the numbers. These include: new and upgraded piers and infrastructure projects; riverside developments; improved passenger information; real time boat information; contactless ticketing on river bus services and the introduction of cycle facilities at the minority of piers where these are not already in place. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson,

	said: “I am delighted that a record number of passengers used the river last year, benefitting from our clearer timetables and improved routes.” “We are nevertheless looking to the future with plans to build further new piers and to expand existing facilities, remaining on course to reach 12 million passengers travelling on the Thames by 2020.”

City Cruises – London’s number one sightseeing tour on the Thames
– reported its strongest year to date
in 2013, with year-on-year growth standing at 22%. A record-breaking festive period and continued growth into January, allowed the company to invest in a new Thames Circular Cruise and a second Thamesjet RIB.

The Thames Circular Cruise, launched in April, sees a £250,000 revamp of heritage vessel Eleanor Rose and offers a 45-minute round trip seven times daily from Tower Pier. The new RIB, Blue Lightning, launched in March, follows the success of her sister RIB Blue Thunder, launched last September.

Port of London Authority, London River House, Royal Pier Road, Gravesend, Kent DA12 2BG. +44 (0) 1474 562200