Skip to main content
Mayor of London logo London Assembly logo
Home

TfL set to take over the operation of the Woolwich Ferry

Created on
10 February 2020

The Mayor asked TfL to review its options as the expiry of the current contract approached

TfL and Briggs Marine have agreed a short-term extension to the contract while it moves towards taking over the service by the end of the year

• Passengers set to benefit from better reliability and customer service

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed its intention to take over the operation and maintenance of the Woolwich Ferry to improve the service. The plans mean passengers will benefit from an increased focus on reliability and customer service.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, asked TfL to review its options for the management of the ferry ahead of Briggs Marine Ltd (Briggs Marine)’s current contract expiring on 31 March 2020. TfL concluded that taking the operation and maintenance in-house would ensure a higher level of control, and by using its experience and resources from across the organisation it would improve the customer experience.

The transition to an in-house operation is expected to complete by the end of the year, after the necessary preparation and employee consultation has concluded. Briggs Marine and TfL have agreed to a short contract extension to help support a smooth transition.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “The Woolwich Ferry is an important part of London’s transport network, and I share passengers’ frustration at the unacceptable closures they have faced over the past year. I am delighted that TfL is set to take over the contract – bringing a renewed focus on Londoners’ needs including better reliability and customer service.”

Jonathan Fox, Director of Rail & Sponsored Services, said: “Taking the operation of the Woolwich Ferry in-house will increase the focus on its performance, ultimately delivering an improved experience for our customers. We would like to thank Briggs Marine for running this operation over the years, and particularly for supporting us through the upcoming transition period.”

Need a document on this page in an accessible format?

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of a PDF or other document on this page in a more accessible format, please get in touch via our online form and tell us which format you need.

It will also help us if you tell us which assistive technology you use. We’ll consider your request and get back to you in 5 working days.