The first branded Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has set sail on the River Thames, marking the start of a partnership between Uber and Thames Clippers.
A fleet of 20 boats on the Thames, with departures from 23 piers across London from Putney in the west to Woolwich Royal Arsenal in the east, will help commuters travel into the city in space and comfort. Leisure travellers will also be able to use the service, as city workers look to safely travel across London.
Uber is rolling out the service on its app, meaning uses can purchase tickets in advance to guarantee a seat and then use QR technology to board. The payment will be processed using the Uber account details.
Jamie Keywood, Regional general Manager for Northern and Eastern Europe said, “As Londoners begin to head back to work and safely move across the city, they will now be able to travel on both the river and road through the Uber app. We must ensure that everyone does not return to their cars in response to the crisis, so our vision is to end private car ownership in favour of shared, electric vehicles, as well as making greater use of the river network for urban mobility.”
Sean Collins, Thames Clippers co-founder and CEO said, “We’re excited that in this new world we are able to offer a new way of travelling through the capital by enabling multi-modal transport with a continued focus on great customer experience. This partnership reflects the resurgence of the river and we’re looking forward to welcoming new passengers on-board to enjoy the unique benefits of navigating London safely by taking to the Thames. We recently announced an expansion of the service out to Barking Riverside and the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers partnership will serve to boost our plans to expand further east and enhance our offering with connectivity in the west.”
Passengers will still be able to purchase tickets via the existing Thames Clippers, including touching in and out with contactless or Oyster to pay as you go, and via its own ticketing app. The boats and piers will be branded with a newly-create Uber Boat by Thames Clippers brand but the service will continue to be fully operated by Thames Clippers.
Following a temporary suspension of services due to COVID-19 lockdown measures, Thames Clippers resumed operations on 15 June with a number of changes which included making all journeys contactless, supplying PPE for all staff, blocking off seats and providing floor markings to ensure distancing, and requiring all passengers to use face coverings.
