'Big boys' take over river bus service

A LONDON river bus service has failed to secure its licence to run its service on the Thames, being out-bid by Thames Clipper that operates most of the river services on the river.

It is feared that hundreds of commuters, who run the service will have to find other methods of getting to work as the river bus service between Putney, Chelsea and the City will stop, Alan Tilbury reveals.

Popular service

This also includes the popular service between Embankment, Canary Wharf and Greenwich.

The operator, Thames Executive Charters, failed to secure the licence to run a service from the new St George's Wharf Pier that has come into commission at Vauxhall, with the tender being won by Thames Clippers, which operates most of the river bus services on the Thames, and has the backing of the owners of the 02 Arena.

Not included

Thames Clippers has launched a new service, but does not include either Chelsea, Wandsworth or Putney, leaving them without a river bus.

However, the commuters who use the original service have launched a petition and are lobbying the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to help.