Thames Clippers to link up with rail operators

The Wharf was the first to reveal back in February that a move to integrate the Clipper onto the Oyster card travel scheme was due before the end of the year. Mayor Boris Johnson announced this week that the pay-as-you-go card would be welcome on the river by November.

Mr Collins said: "Obviously we've had an indication for the last couple of weeks that it was going to be achieved, and I believe The Wharf was the first newspaper to report that.

"It's been a long haul and there have been factors that have delayed it, but the introduction of Oyster is certainly going to make the service more accessible for the day-to-day commuter."

Oyster cards will be initally be debited using hand-held ticketing machines similar to those which were once found on Routemaster buses, but the company is looking into employing alternative systems in future.

Journey times will also be improved through the direct London Bridge to Canary Wharf commuter service which launched on Monday. Managing director Sean Collins also told The Wharf this week he was hoping to announce joint ticketing schemes with First Capital Connect and Southeastern Trains, which serve locations such as Tonbridge, Cambridge and Brighton.

Mr Collins said: "There's no similar service on the river.

"We are not a boat cruise. This is a fast ferry service, which is why we want to join up with other forms of transport, such as the DLR and buses and even rail.

"We're talking to First Capital Connect and Southeastern Trains to offer joint ticketing for customers next month."

The commuter link between London Bridge and Canary Wharf was launched on Monday, and leaves every ten minutes between 7am and 9am. Ferries previously left every 20 minutes between 7.45am and 9am, and every 30 minutes at other times.

Mr Collins said: "If you step off platform five at London Bridge station, it actually takes around the same time to get on the Jubilee line and go to Canary Wharf as it would to go to London Bridge City Pier and take the Thames Clipper.

"I think the boat takes one minute longer."

While he ruled out adding extra stops to the main route between Waterloo and Woolwich, he explained the operator was looking into "feeder services" from key piers, and possibly a new route in the coming weeks.

The development of Canary Riverside should provide a further boom, especially when 20,000 JP Morgan staff eventually move into their new Riverside South home in around 2013.

He said: "Hopefully this agreement will result in the expansion of Canary Wharf pier and piers like it.

"Ultimately the pier is going to need to be bigger, certainly within the next two or three years.

"I've always said that the development of phase two of Canary Riverside would be the making of the Clippers, and my prayers have been answered there. But Canary Wharf pier needs to be ready to cope with it because demand will be phenomenal.

"I'd like to see a pier in the Wood Wharf area as well, as you could be in the Wharf from Woolwich in 10 to 11 minutes, which is faster than any other form of transport and possibly even Crossrail."