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"At 06.48 on May 24 1999, I captained the Storm Clipper on her first journey from Greenland to Savoy Pier with a grand total of two passengers onboard. I remember as I drove the vessel down the river that morning wondering if there would be any more on the next run. There were. In fact, by close of business on the first day we had welcomed a further seventy nine customers, and by the end of that week over a hundred commuters had committed to travelling regularly with Thames Clippers. It was a good start, but if someone had told me then that ten years later we would own thirteen boats, be carrying nearly three million commuters and tourists a year and were considered an integral part of the London transport system alongside the tubes and buses, I think I would have been a little taken back."
Sean Collins, Managing Director, Thames Clippers
Thames Clippers, London's leading commuter river service, celebrates it's tenth anniversary, on Sunday 24th May 2009 and there is much to shout about.
As the anniversary neared, it was finally agreed that Thames Clippers will be fully integrated into London's transport system.
On April 6th the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, announced plans to improve London's river services - and Thames Clippers will be playing a major part. The river Concordat brings together London's pier owners, boat operators, borough councils and Transport for London to make a commitment to work together to improve ticketing, piers and passenger information.
From November, Thames Clippers services will accept Oyster PAYG ensuring it's place as a viable alternative to other forms of public transport, and making it easier for Londoners, and tourists alike to utilise the service.
Thames Clippers tenth birthday is a proud day for Sean Collins who founded the service in 1999 with former Chairman, Alan Woods. It began as a single vessel carrying 80 passengers a day, growing to 1,500 passengers a week - with 2008 seeing nearly 3 million people using the service - it's certainly come a long way over a decade. In 2007 AEG Europe, owners and operators of The O2, invested in a majority stake in Thames Clippers and helped it's expansion.
The service has also been enjoyed by a host of famous names from Nicholas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni on their last state visit to the UK to the world class entertainers who have graced The O2 - the Rolling Stones, Elton John and Kylie Minogue.
Currently the service runs every 20 minutes between key London piers and has just introduced a 10 minute frequency service London Bridge and Canary Wharf during commuter hours. Slowly but surely Thames Clippers is becoming THE way to travel as both a commuter and a tourist.
Customers are always guaranteed a seat, can sit back and enjoy the onboard catering service, and generally enjoy a stress-free trip to work. The mayor summed up the service succinctly as he looked forward to the Olympics: "I want visitors to be able to glory in the beauty of our great waterway as they whiz between the centre of the capital and the Olympic venues at Greenwich".
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