From the beginning there were issues
From the beginning there were issues, starting with the surprise, smaller boats shuttling passengers between jetties due to the high tide, at one point waiting mid-river in stifling heat for what felt like a very long time while other, queued boats cleared the jetty for disembarkation.
Then, at the unplanned interchanges, there was increasing passenger congestion and delays waiting for unplanned connecting boats.
It was a hot day and the ventilation and cooling in the interior felt non-existent and the air stifling.
Having finally arrived at our destination in Greenwich and after a pleasant time there together we thought we could look forward to a nice, continuous journey back to our home pier in Putney together as the tide had by then ebbed. However, planned boat back was already full
to capacity, and we were instructed to form a queue with other people waiting for the next boat that a)would be at least 30 minutes in arriving and b)only go only as far as the Southbank. The queue was in the blazing sun, with no shade nor seating. At the front of the queue there were already elderly and infirm people who had been unable to board the previous boat and were being asked to stand in dangerously hot sun.
To remain in this queue would
have been harmful to my wife's health and, at least,
very uncomfortable
for the rest of her family accompanying her. Furthmore, there was no guarantee of there being capacity for us to able to board a subsequent boat.
Had it been clearly highlighted before buying our tickets that there would be potential disruptions at high tide and/or a likelihood of having to queue in an exposed position without seating, I would have been able to make an informed choice about
if and when to travel.
As it was, however, I believe that Thames Clippers took the payment of my fare under false pretexts which resulted in a worsening of my wife's
condition and all four of us having to negotiate a difficult and costly journey home by other public transport, rather than the scenic and relaxing journey home that I had planned and had believed I had paid for.
Needless to say, I doubt any one from our family would trust thames clippers as a means of reliable or pleasant transport again.
N.b. Just found similar horror stories in the one star ratings for Uber Thames Clipper on Trip Advisor.
