Clippers' boat business is booming

It means boats fill up quickly at peak times, leading to complaints by regular passengers unable to board. Managing director Sean Collins spoke to The Wharf about the issue.

He said: “I admit we’ve had problems but we are working hard to overcome them. We can’t have people stacked like sardines on the boats because physically and legally we aren’t allowed.

“Demand at peak times is a struggle to cope with, but unlike the Tube, we can’t run three boats in 12 minutes. I’d like to but without a bigger fleet it’s not possible.”

The company, part-owned by The O2 operators AEG, has invested £15million in its fleet over the past 18 months and now has 12 boats plus the Hilton Ferry, but there is scope for more. But it still only receives the same subsidy from TfL it enjoyed when it operated just three boats.

Mr Collins said: “We can still only run services every 20 minutes. I want to run them every five or six minutes at peak times because the demand is there, but we need more investment from TfL for it to happen.”

Negotiations are well advanced to include the Clippers in the Oyster system and Mr Collins believes the service, like the DLR, will eventually be recognised as a vital component of the capital’s transport network.

He said: “Look at the £50million investment the DLR is now getting, that would transform the river service, especially its infrastructure.

“Canary Wharf pier hasn’t been extended and it would help if it was. We can spend as long waiting there as it takes a boat to travel to London Bridge. Something needs to be done.”

And it’s not just harassed Wharfers who have found the boat service a godsend.

“Neil Diamond used the boat to get to his gig at The O2,” said Mr Collins. “He got stuck in a traffic jam so he jumped on the boat to get to the concert on time.”