Commuters angry as river speed limit is halved

The speed limit for boats on the Thames has been halved amid fears of collisions between the increasing number of fast passenger craft.

All vessels have been ordered by the Port of London Authority to keep to just 12 knots, down from 24 knots, between Greenwich and central London.

Commuters have complained, however, that journeys now take longer.

Marcelle Bernstein said the evening Thames Clipper service which runs between Woolwich and Waterloo had been affected.

"Sailing with them is great - quiet, comfortable, immensely civilised and above all, fast," she said. "From Greenland Dock to Embankment takes 20 minutes at rush hour.

"But the result (of the new limit) is to double travel times. Greenland to Embankment now takes 40 minutes," she said. "When I travelled with Thames Clipper recently, the listed 8.40am sailing didn't actually materialise until 8.55am and in six years I have never known this happen."

The port authority said the lower limit was vital for safety as new vessels, including rigid inflatables and catamarans, took to the river.

"We have made this precautionary move because of a significant increase in the number of fast vessels on the Thames," said a spokesman.

"In recent months new vessels have started operating new services on new routes and leisure operators have introduced tourist-related high-speed trips.

"This measure will help ensure continued high safety standards on the river."

The spokesman said the authority had met Thames boat operators and river users to agree "updated operating rules".

A spokesperson for Thames Clippers, which operates 10 high-speed, 220-seat boats between Waterloo and Woolwich at 15-minute intervals, said: "We are doing everything we can to ensure our services are not disrupted."

More than £20 million has been invested in the Thames Clipper service since it was taken over by AEG Worldwide, which also operates the 02, last year.