- home ›
- features & articles ›
- news ›
- water bus to olympic park takes test run
News
Water-bus to Olympic Park takes test run
The first of a new fleet of water-buses has been unveiled in the London Docklands today, as part of plans for a service to transport passengers to the Olympic Park during the 2012 Games.
The Water Chariot water-bus will be testing out the route from Limehouse Basin, in the London Docklands, to Old Ford Lock on the River Lee, which is on the edge of the Olympic Park. Along the way, it will stop at Three Mills Island in Bromley-by-Bow. A fleet of 26 of the barges is planned to carry passengers on the 35-minute journey, offering a unique way to travel to the Games.
Mark Blackwell, British Waterways’ project manager said: “It’s fantastic to see the first waterbus arrive at Limehouse Basin today. The canals and rivers of East London provide a perfect route to the Olympic Park. We hope that more activity on the waterways will ensure a long-term legacy for the area, with more people discovering and enjoying the canals and rivers that connect different communities within the capital.”
Go by boat to the Olympic Park
The waterbus route has been made possible following investment of £300,000 by British Waterways, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation and the Olympic Delivery Authority.
The Olympic waterbus service is a privately operated business, known as Water Chariots, managed by Peter Coleman. Peter explains: “Travelling to the Olympic Park by barge will be a wonderful experience. At 4mph it’s never going to be the fastest route, but it’s full of character and interest.
“We’ve had a lot of interest from businesses and individuals alike, and with that in mind during 2012 we’ll be offering a hop-on hop-off service for the public, and a charter service for corporates.”
During 2011, the Water Chariots team will be running a series of trials to help shape the design and interior of the rest of the fleet, train new staff, develop the route and finalise a timetable, ready for 2012.
Stimulating regeneration
John Middleton at the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation said: “Revealing east London’s waterways has been like recovering buried treasure, but it’s acting as a real driver in stimulating high quality waterside development. The waterbus route will help generate interest from both businesses and visitors, alike making East London a place to come to rather than pass through.
“Readily accessible waterways combined with superb public spaces will see a future of restaurants, shops, cafes and other amenities emerging by the water side creating a new Camden of the east.”
Each waterbus can carry approximately 70 passengers, and the public can register their interest for both chartered cruises during 2011 and Games time journeys now on the Water Chariots website.
Last updated: 14/07/2011
We'd love to hear your comments on this article, but please ensure they meet our guidelines. We reserve the right to remove all or part of a comment before or after publication.