Boris gives Woolwich ferry four more years

The future of Thames river commuter services to Woolwich was today guaranteed for another four years after Boris Johnson agreed to keep subsidising the ferries.

A contract with Thames Clippers expired in January, leaving the service between Woolwich Arsenal and the QEII pier in Greenwich under threat.

But under a new deal announced today, Transport for London and Greenwich council will pay the company £269,000 over four years. Part of the subsidy comes from money paid to Greenwich council by two housing developers.

About 800 people a day use the service to and from Woolwich, the last stop on a service calling at 11 other piers between Waterloo and the O2 arena. TfL said passenger numbers on river services were up 11 per cent this year.