Wandsworth’s riverbus services will more than double from April 2nd, following the appointment of KPMG Thames Clippers as the new operator of the Putney to Blackfriars route.

Thames Clippers will offer faster journey times and more frequent services on fully accessible, high speed catamarans.

The new contract secures the Putney to Blackfriars service and is the result of collaboration between the Mayor's office, TfL and Wandsworth Council.

The boats will stop at Putney, Wandsworth Riverside Quarter, Chelsea Harbour , Cadogan, Embankment and Blackfriars Piers.

Two further passenger piers are planned on the Wandsworth riverside, one at Plantation Wharf and another at Battersea Power Station.

The Plantation Wharf pier could be completed later this year, opening up the service to thousands more local people.

Real time boat arrival information - called iBoat - will shortly be rolled out at the piers on this section of the river, making travelling more convenient.

Arrival information will also be available via mobile phone apps meaning customers will be able to time their arrival at the pier to catch the next boat.

KPMG Thames Clippers will also bring Oyster to the route, meaning passengers can use Pay as You Go to pay for their fares. There will also be a reduced fare for passengers with Travelcards. For regular passengers there is a range of season tickets available on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

In order to make the route fully accessible, essential improvement work is to be carried out on a number of piers on the route, partially funded by Wandsworth Council.

Leader of Wandsworth Council, Councillor Govindia, said: "This is fantastic news for our riverside communities. Travelling by boat is a great way to get across the city and the faster, more frequent timetable will help to take the pressure off other local transport services.

"The new service is an important step forward and plans for two new piers along Wandsworth's stretch of the riverside would mean more local people can enjoy travelling to work each day on the Thames."

Wandsworth's London Assembly Member, Richard Tracey, said: "This is the announcement which many people along the riverside in Wandsworth, Putney, and Battersea have been waiting for. From my conversations and from emails I have received over the past few years, there appears to be a whole now cohort of river commuters and leisure travellers waiting to climb aboard the boats. With the promised new pier at Plantation Wharf, close by Wandsworth Bridge and Battersea Square, the prospects will be completed."

March 7, 2013