Could Thames Clippers' Service Be Expanded in 2017?
A meeting on its future is part of Local MP Greg Hands' busy week
During the meeting, he says the company have acknowledged a need to expand the service, currently only available at peak commuter times, to include off-peak and weekend travel.
He says:
On Friday, 25 November, Member of Parliament for Chelsea & Fulham, Greg Hands, held a meeting with Sean Collins, Chief Executive Officer of MBNA Thames Clippers.
Co-founded by Mr Collins in 1999, Thames Clippers provide a river bus service on the Thames, including both commuter and tourist services. Thames Clippers operate a fleet of fifteen high-speed catamarans, which, following the maritime tradition of giving fleets connected names, all have names relating to meteorological features.
Further to correspondence between Greg and Mr Collins on behalf of local residents, Greg was glad to hear about the intended investment and expansion of Thames Clippers’ RB6 service between Putney Bridge and Blackfriars – the route most likely used by residents of Chelsea & Fulham – over the past three years.
"Thames Clippers currently carry more than 1,000 commuters each day on the RB6 route and, as Greg suggested in his correspondence, Thames Clippers have acknowledged that there is the need for an off-peak and weekend service. Mr Collins has also been discussing the Thames Clippers service with neighbouring MP for Putney, Justine Greening.
"Speaking after the meeting, Greg Hands said: “I am glad that Thames Clippers’ CEO, Sean Collins, is seriously considering investing further in the local RB6 route that serves my constituents in Chelsea & Fulham, providing them with an alternative route into Central London.
"I should like to thank Mr Collins for our meeting, and I will keep my constituents updated as to Thames Clipper' plans to begin off-peak and weekend services on our local route."
In the bulletin, the MP says he has also:
- Helped launch the UK Government’s ground-breaking exports portal and website, GREAT.gov.uk.
- Welcomed the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, which continues the focus on deficit reduction and urgent action to address the UK’s weak productivity, and doubled the lending capacity of UK Export Finance, important for UK exporters.
- Attended and addressed the Kensington, Chelsea & Fulham Conservative Association’s Annual Dinner with neighbouring MP for Kensington, Lady Borwick, and guest of honour, Dr Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade.
- Travelled to Manchester to deliver the keynote speech at the EIC Energy conference.
- Celebrated the 50th anniversary of the opening of Health Foods, Fulham Road.
- Attended Lady Margaret School’s Christmas Fair in Parsons Green.
- Attended the local Redcliffe Ward, Chelsea, Conservatives’ event as its guest of honour.
- Attended an Action Day with Conservative Way Forward in Hammersmith & Fulham.
- Delivered a speech at Asia House on the UK’s trade prospects with the Asia-Pacific region.
- Was keynote speaker at Golden Silk Road Forum: UK-China Golden Era on the importance of ‘One Belt, One Road’.
- Welcomed the Kazakh ambassador, H.E. Erzhan Kazykhanov to the Department for International Trade. Greg also co-hosted with Minister Yerlan Khairov the 3rd UK-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission on opportunities for the UK in energy, mining, and financial services.
- Welcomed M. Claude Bartolone and the French delegation of MPs to the Department for International Trade to discuss trade and Brexit.
- Welcomed the leader of German CDU MEPs, David McAllister, to the Department for Trade.
- Was guest speaker in Worcester at the West Worcestershire Conservative Association’s Annual Dinner, with local MP and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin.
- Was guest of honour and speaker at the Streatham Conservative Association’s Annual Dinner, in south London.
- Welcomed leading Malaysian investors to the Department for International Trade to hear their views and to answer questions on trade and investment.
- Visited Berkhamsted School and addressed their conference on how learning modern foreign languages can help boost UK trade.
- Welcomed leaders of British American Business (BAB) group to the House of Commons.
- Welcomed Minister H.E. Mohammed Sharif and Ambassador H.E. Salman Al Mazroui of the United Arab Emirates for talks at the House of Commons.
You can contact Greg Hands in the following ways:
By email: |
|
|
By post: |
|
Greg Hands MP |
In person: |
|
Click here for details of how to book an appointment at Greg Hands’s weekly surgery |
December 2, 2016
Related links
|
