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Uber Boat service launches in London with Thames Clippers

Posted: 3 August 2020 |

The partnership between Uber and Thames Clippers aims to encourage more people to travel by boat around the city and support the ongoing expansion of the river network across London.

uber boat in London

Uber has expanded its services in London by taking to the water, with the Thames Clippers commuter service now rebranded as ‘Uber Boat’. 

A fleet of 20 boats on the River Thames, with departures from 23 piers across London from Putney in the west to Woolwich Royal Arsenal in the east, aim to help commuters travel into the city in space and comfort. Leisure travellers will also be able to use the service.

Uber is rolling out the service on its app, meaning users 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.

Uber boat sketch

Credit: Thames Clippers

Jamie Heywood, Regional General Manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, Uber, said: “As Londoners begin to head back to work and move safely across the city, they will now be able to book 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, added: “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.”

Following a temporary suspension due to COVID-19 lockdown measures, Thames Clippers resumed operation on 15 June with a number of changes to its services: 

  • Making all journeys fully contactless
  • Supplying PPE for all staff
  • Blocking off seats and providing floor markings to ensure distancing
  • All passengers have to use face coverings if they wish to use the service, in line with government and TfL guidance.

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