Service alerts
Learn more about what can cause service delays or cancellations
This page is updated regularly when we have advanced notice of situations which may impact our service. For the most up to date information on our services please follow @thamesclippers on X (formerly known as Twitter).
As soon as we are aware of any disruptions, service alerts will be sent via X.
Service alerts
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Putney Pier service disruption
Putney Pier will be closed during The Head of the River Races on:- Sat 22 March: 08:15 - 12:15
- Sun 23 March: 09:00 - 12:00
- Tue 25 March: 12:00 - 16:00
All other piers will remain open, and services will continue to run according to the timetable. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. -
Doubletree Docklands Pier closure from 17 March
From Monday 17 March, Doubletree Docklands Pier will be closed as we prepare to launch the UK’s first electric cross-river ferry between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe. The works are expected to take around five weeks.
During this time, we’re adding extra sailings between Canary Wharf and Greenland (Surrey Quays)— a 17-minute riverside walk from Doubletree Docklands Pier.
Some RB1, RB2, and RB6 timetables may have minor changes, so please check before travelling.
Thames Barrier Closures
To view a full list of upcoming barrier closure dates, visit the government website.
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Thames Barrier Closure
Thursday, 20 MarchA test closure of the Thames Barrier is scheduled to take place 09:40 – 12:10 on Thursday 20 March. This will prevent all sailings between these times from calling at Barking Riverside and Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) piers.
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Thames Barrier Closure
Thursday, 17 AprilA test closure of the Thames Barrier is scheduled to take place 09:45 – 12:10 on Thursday 17 April. This will prevent all sailings between these times from calling at Barking Riverside and Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) piers.
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Thames Barrier Closure
Monday, 19 MayA test closure of the Thames Barrier is scheduled to take place 11:10 – 13:40 on Monday 19 May. This will prevent some services from calling at Barking Riverside and Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) piers.
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Thames Barrier Closure
Monday, 16 JuneA test closure of the Thames Barrier is scheduled to take place 10:30 – 13:00 on Monday 16 June. This will prevent all sailings between these times from calling at Barking Riverside and Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) piers.
Service updates on X
- Our fleet control update X (formerly known as Twitter) with delay information using TfL’s wording for delays. “Minor” refers to delays between 5-15 minutes. “Severe” refers to delays that are over 15 minutes.
- When a service is “suspended between two piers” this means that the service is not able to run between the piers mentioned or at the intermediate piers.
- We cannot always give a specific reason for each individual delay nor can our fleet control respond to individual tweets asking about the arrival time of your service.
- Live departure information is available on the Thames Clippers Tickets app.
What causes service delays and alerts?
Spontaneous service delays can be caused by a number of issues including river congestion, pier congestion, passenger demand, passenger disruption and occasional technical issues with our vessels. When we are aware of these disruptions, a service alert is issued via our X page.
Anticipated service alerts can be caused by:
- Tidal conditions
At extremely low tides, our vessels may be unable to dock successfully at some of our piers or it may be unsafe for passengers to attempt to board from them. Low tide also limits the Thames’s river traffic capacity which can cause congestion. - Thames Barrier closures
The Thames Barrier is located between Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) and Royal Wharf piers. When the barrier is closed for tests, or to prevent London from flooding, our services are unable to reach Woolwich (Royal Arsenal) or Barking Riverside piers. - London fog
In extreme fog our services cannot operate. As foggy conditions can change rapidly, please check our X page for the most up-to-date information. - Riverside activities
The Thames is an incredibly active river and events regularly take place along its banks and on the river itself which have the potential to affect some services.
We apologise for any inconvenience that service disruption has caused to your journey and we always appreciate your patience while we manage the matter. If you wish to contact our Customer Service Team, you can do so here.