Electric ferry between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe launches (and it’s not cheap)

A new electric ferry service has begun operating between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe with Mayor Sadiq Khan on hand for the launch, though it’s far from cheap to use.

Named the Orbit Clipper it’ll cost £4.10 for a single. That’s a fair bit more than most drivers pay to use Silvertown tunnel.

And unlike the tunnel don’t expect any discounts for those less well-off or living locally. The website also states: “Discounts are not available for the Cross River fare: children, concession or Travelcard discounts do not apply”.

UPDATE: I’ve just looked online and when selecting a ticket from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf it’s coming up at £5.90 a single! Though child fares are available on that.

Presumably this is due to it not being the specific Orbit fare? Don’t get caught out by that.

Bridge scrapped

The new ferry arrives after a pedestrian and cycling bridge plan previously proposed from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf was scrapped by Sadiq Khan.

Mayor Khan was on hand today stating:

“This is a fantastic new transport option for Londoners – not only cleaner and greener than its predecessor, but providing quicker and more accessible journeys across the river for far more people. Innovation and investment in travel infrastructure like this will help us navigate the challenges facing our environment and our economy as we continue building a fairer, greener, better London for everyone.”

Both sides of the river at Canada Water/Rotherhite and Canary Wharf/Isle of Dogs are seeing major development.

Up to 4,000 homes are planned at Surrey Quays shopping centre and surrounding areas.

A former gasholder site in Rotherhithe also has plans for new homes.

Numerous towers are on the up or on the way north of the Thames across Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs.

Ferry replacement

In place of the now-scrapped bridge is the expensive electric ferry which replaces a former smaller capacity vessel.

Like other ferries it’s liable to suspension choppy weather or when fog rolls in. You can’t use it in the early hours and you have to wait for a ferry to arrive. A distinctly cheap solution.

If the cost is too high you could cycle all the way around to the somewhat tragic cycle bus running through the £2.2 billion Silvertown tunnel.

You may be taking your life in your hands though on the southern approach beneath the flyover given how dire the road network is on foot and bike.

There is the longer route via Tunnel Avenue.

It’s filthy, remote, longer and you can enjoy numerous lorries en route.

Funnily enough many sites covering this new boat today have rehashed the press release without mentioning either the previous bridge plan was scrapped or the poor approaches to the cycle bus when attempting to cross the river.

So is this ferry better than what went before? Yes, as that was crap.

Is it anywhere near what could be on offer to help tens of thousands of new residents either side of the river – in addition to existing residents? No.