Royal Wharf - The Least Used River Pier

We've covered the least used Tube, Tram, TfL Rail and Overground stops, which leaves us with just two more to do - here's one of them, what's the Least Used Pier on the River Boat service? It's .. the newest pier on the network, Royal Wharf.
Note, out of the 22 piers that you can catch river service from, only 11 are actually shown on the Tube Map due to design limitations, and the '10 minute walking' rule. So Royal Wharf is on the north side of the Thames, nearest station is Pontoon Dock on the DLR.
Passenger figures are for the 2019 period.
Also, if you've read this far ... you know what to do, that's right, say "Mmmm... Pie!" in the comments.

[@GIOGS]

The year is 2028, Geoff Marshall has uploaded a new video: “least used carriage on the Jubilee Line”

[@dmrr7739]

By then, hopefully Geoff will be exploring the least used airlock on the ISS. Ticket machine? No. Oyster? No. Dot matrix? Well, sort of. Robotic manipulator arm? Check. Step-free? Very.

[@coyotelong4349]

Gio G Least used seat on every tube train

[@mr.x9566]

I'd like to see a video on the least used Santander Cycle.

[@eugeneharris1159]

DM RR least used nyc subway station

[@joesos]

@@mr.x9566 That could work, "Least Used Cycle Hire location"

[@domramsey]

Coming Soon: London's Least Used Uber Driver

[@Vokabre]

London's Least Used Bus Stop

[@gabri_maybe]

Least used TOC that operates in Greater London

[@railwaymedialondon]

london’s least used waitrose

[@volvotrident4835]

Vokabre Thats suprisingly not hard to find

[@Julia_and_the_City]

Least used Pret a Manger

[@thegooselord4978]

TFL staff are actually so kind. Really deserve more credit for being cheery in the times we live in today , was surprised by the “cheers mate have a lovely day” , that’s not the London I know !

[@DeathByKappa]

The Thames Clippers staff are not TFL staff it's a private company. :) Secondly cheers the guy in the video is me. 😂

[@nezbrun872]

I do my daily commute on the river bus, the display boards routinely display nonsense. The boats themselves are pretty reliable and reasonably on time, and I always get a seat, and a view, and I can use my 4G smartphone on board. The icing on the cake is that you can always treat yourself to a G&T (or three) on the way home.

[@johnsmith-wx5fb]

Is it 2.40 on oyster

[@nezbrun872]

@@johnsmith-wx5fb Nope, I have a season ticket, £200/month. Tube would be about £150/month. I consider the extra £50 worth it for a stress free journey with a seat, a view, 4G and an occasional option for a pint of g&t.

[@johnsmith-wx5fb]

@@nezbrun872 pint of G & T ? You nutter!! I love it! Get ready for a new ship mate

[@Stockstad]

Still waiting for the least used Cable Car station (?).

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

and least used signal box...or maybe least used oyster tap in machine....oh my god, the list is endless......

[@LOLman6499]

You can't do Cable Car just like Waterloo & City because both stations are used just as much

[@Rednesswahn]

@@LOLman6499 No, you can keep sitting in the cable car and get off on the same side you got on

[@QuarioQuario54321]

Least used Waterloo and City line: Bank

[@QuarioQuario54321]

Least used Waterloo and City line: Bank

[@ToilerOnTheSea]

Has to be an All the Jetties episode now

[@triggerwarning7662]

16k passengers. For a new service. In just two months. With a very limited service pattern. That's impressive. I wonder if it will be repeated when Barking Riverside pier is open.

[@JagerLange]

"If you ever get tired of taking pictures of Tube corridors, come to Royal Wharf and take a picture of the.. thing that... sticks out." I believe that's called "An Offer You Can't Refuse".

[@alric8]

Geoff asked about this a few months ago so here are a couple of least used bus stop suggestions: -Passingford Bridge on the 375? In the middle of nowhere and only served so they can turn the bus around -One of the multiple stops on the Bishops Avenue on the H3 (eg. White Lodge Close). A combination of the fact that Bishop's Avenue is inhabited entirely by billionaires who never take the bus and the fact the H3 is very infrequent means I doubt anyone has got on at one of these stops in years.

[@spiccybaby]

Roaring trade in nannies, cleaners etc. surely?

[@alric8]

@@spiccybaby that's a very interesting point. I guess I will have to go down there one day and find out.

[@n1thmusic229]

Let me introduce to you North Downs Road and Chessington Golf Club both of which are surrounded almost entirely by the greenbelt and have about 2-3 buildings each, I mean just go on google street view and look at them

[@wclifton968gameplaystutorials]

The Dot-Matix Displays used on the Thames Clipper are the same ones used at London Bus stops and outside of London in some areas in the UK such as Guildford

[@walker1054]

I think it would be cool for TFL to take these fully in house eventually. Maybe in 10 years when they can be fully electric without costing much and the running cost of the whole thing will be cheap enough. Make them slightly more regular, given normal prices and included in travel cards, and during rush hours have them be much more express. Try and up the capacity of each too, have a bigger standing area at the front and back. Just get a few more people onto them to have like a 0.1% less strain on the DLR and tube.

[@robward367]

You often see these boats full, more tourist attraction than viable commuter transport? But at least they are trying!

[@TheByard]

When working on the construction of DLR into Bank Station I used a river bus service from Tower of London to Greenwich. went abroad to work and on a visit to Tower Bridge noticed all the river buses mothballed in Tower Bridge Marina. So what happened I wonder and why the change of heart.

[@jgodfrey546]

Geoff! Love all your videos. Must say though, this one stands out amongst its piers....

[@blablette7614]

"This pier does not appear..." ^_^

[@rainycitykids6408]

Yes it does

[@blablette7614]

@@rainycitykids6408 I just cited Geoff on 6:25 ...

[@alexleo172]

A *pier*

[@fribbleblib]

Sometime soon we are visiting for a day to go to every least used Tube, Tram, TfL Rail, and Overground stop, plus Cable Car and Waterloo and City line. You have now just extended our day!

[@iandraper8554]

That would be a good challenge

[@walker1054]

I imagine the Santander Cycle station numbers are avaliable? That'll be a good actual one to do I guess since nothing else is really left?

[@fredred4264]

Bus stops

[@gabri_maybe]

TOC That operates In/out Of Greater London

[@walker1054]

@@fredred4264 Bus stops would be cool. I can't find the least used bus stop but there is a list of the least used bus ROUTES. The least one has 29 per day, so like 15 return journies.

[@joesos]

Ben W do you have the link to that list? Thx

[@OneKnifeYeHand]

Yes, least used bus stop in London. But also, he should do the least used bus stop in the UK lol

[@7DenshaMaster]

This reminds me so much of my job with NYC Ferry. The emptiness of the landings reminds me when I work the Lower East Side Route

[@RandomHuman4022]

I do love the river bus, always been lovely whenever I've used them. Wish I had more of an excuse to use them.

[@firefly24601]

"It's really windy!!!" You had to know that was coming.... :)

[@pgchase4578043026]

Can you swim faster than the River Bus...?

[@rmm2000]

Love your work Sir.

[@joshdean9105]

I work for thames clippers. The Westminster pie is a ibus error and will take at least 8 weeks to be fixed :( London Bridge is not wheelchair accessible as well. Hope to see you on the piers sometime!

[@caw25sha]

Please give them this with my compliments: r

[@joshdean9105]

@@caw25sha Will do🤣

[@cholmondley1152]

The piers appear as bus stops on bus countdown apps and even when you're on the boats you sometimes hear messages that clearly relate to buses but they use on the boats. This bus is ready to depart is one of them!

[@pgchase4578043026]

River bus.

[@joesos]

This ~~river~~ bus is ready to depart

[@samulihirsi]

"No buses stop here....." doh, it is a river BUS.

[@robward367]

Used it from Royal Wharf 28/12, ran for the last boat in fact! Lovely 50 min voyage to Embankment, very nice crew too.

[@robward367]

Ps there's a nice cafe, a coffee shop chain and a well known local supermarket

[@joannegray5138]

You didn't happen to find a bust of Queen Victoria washed up on the shore? There's an East End pub missing theirs.... 😁

[@headforthehillsuk]

If you need a railway tie in the ships in the background at about the 2:00 mark are on the opposite bank of the Thames, tied up alongside the offloading pier of the aggregate plant at Angerstein Wharf. That of the branch line foot crossing video.

[@Paul_Lucas]

Another railway tie-in is that what eventually became known as the Silvertown tramway used to serve factories on this site, and Geoff is standing right on the site of an old tramline when he alights from the pier onto solid ground. It was a working wharf back in the day and you would have had small tank engines shunting right along the wharf. There are only a few remnants of the tramway now left.

[@sharizaslam]

Royal wharf! I was one of the first residents of this new development but recently moved out as I only planned to spend a year in London. It's a great development.

[@engineerjim2018]

Geof The ramp section that goes between the fixed walkway and floating pontoon is called the links pan

[@TheByard]

Links pan??????

[@engineerjim2018]

Good Moaning Vietnam it is “linkspan” all one word. Curse iPad predictive typing

[@kevinjones4559]

Recommend Westminster to Greenwich on a clipper. Great trip

[@OllieV__nl]

When I was in L:ondon 2 years back (wow, time flies) I had an afternoon of unexpected extra time and I just took the river bus. Great views, fun ride, fresh air, and the first time I had been on a boat in at least 15 years. Since then, I've taken pedestrian ferries and river buses elsewhere just for the fun of it.

[@lazenbytim]

I love this content, man I must be 'turning' into a right geek!

[@evancortez2]

mmm yeah, love me some of that there Westminster pie!

[@JISJ1964]

Great! Interesting! It will be very much fun to follow this up.

[@Jeagles]

1:52 that Avro RJ - You inadvertently caught the sound of a lovely plane leaving City Airport

[@caw25sha]

Avro RJ - I was wondering what they were called this week!

[@robward367]

Original types called BAe 146 - UKs best selling airliner, nearly 400 produced !

[@Jeagles]

Rob Ward and our last entirely UK produced airliner, AND the last aircraft to be built at DeHavilland’s Hatfield facility

[@robward367]

eagles Don't worry the UK will still make jam, catch real UK fish and export pork to China after true Brexit, that's where the real money is of course, as long as we believe hard enough!!

[@tennyho3236]

J eagles the aircraft having five apus lol

[@cesariojpn]

3:30 No blowing bin bag in the breeze?

[@LisaMarli]

Mmm, pie. They need a spellchecker for their dot matrix. Traveling by boat up and down the Thames, what a novel thought. How many thousands of years? Glad they are encouraging it. When we were there in the mid 60s, it was only for the tourists.

[@theowinters6314]

While I like the idea of branding the lifebuoy case with the roundel, that might make it less oblivious that it's a lifebuoy.

[@benjamintery7847]

They are so comfortable :)

[@MrMIIMARIO]

Next up: least used pret in London 🍵

[@BC-uq9ym]

Clippers are criminally underused

[@JISJ1964]

As my last visit in London was during the preparation for the Olympics I had to let the Clippers replace the Tube in some relations.

[@nathanw9770]

People only use them if they need to cross the Thames though. And even then most people take alternative options.

[@JISJ1964]

@@nathanw9770 At that time as I said I had to use it as replacement for the tube and got on and off on the same side. One great thing with them is that if you are in a hurry and don´t really have time for an "after work" at the pub there is beer onboard and you travel.

[@caw25sha]

The eastern and western parts run during the rush hour only so I assume they are popular with commuters. Other times they are rather neglected. They probably need to be marketed better.

[@JISJ1964]

@@caw25sha I would say that we tourists would be those that should see the City from the water.

[@waresy81]

I think I've only ever used the river boats a couple of times, great service but never think about it for getting about that direction.

[@charliemorris-kidd6688]

I’ve literally only just got the notification for this video but this is one I didn’t expect

[@kemi7689]

It's so expensive, I live near one of the piers, take it occasionally, it always very nice taking it, always get a seat and it never crowdy when I take it and you always get beautiful views of London.

[@johnmurrell3175]

Next - the least used ticket gate on the Underground ! Do TfL publish the usage figures of each gate - they used to be available to employees but should be available via a FOI request if they are not on the website. Some that are out of the direct walking route have surprisingly low usage figures even at busy stations.

[@deltastransportadventures4083]

Great video! You should do more videos of the River Thames.

[@richardwager283]

I’ve lived in London since I was born on the top deck of a Route Master and have never been on the river bus. Am I actually a Londoner❓

[@2H80vids]

Interesting stuff Mr Marshall; something a wee bit different.👍 I believe they sell Westminster pies in the House of Commons cafe. Cheers for now, Dougie.

[@Karolluzak1]

Good job keep up the good work

[@josephmonti4524]

The clippers is a great way to see London. Easy and relaxing

[@4623620]

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a list of least used stations (preferably with time schedules or route description suggestions) for visitors/tourists who like to see an other side of London ? Called something like "The Easy Ride" or "London the Quiet Way".

[@tubemapper]

Ha ha Geoff I'm sold definitely going to get a shot of this pier it looks great!

[@geofftech2]

what was freaking is that i thought of you ... shot that bit of the video, THEN took my insta photo/post, to which you replied to saying "i should photo this!". freaky ....

[@GManPT]

Mmmm... Pie! By the way, you misspelled Wharf in the description :P

[@7DenshaMaster]

Also regarding the jetty ramp, Ik in the US we call them extended gangways onto the landings or barges. Either way looks a lot nicer than the NYCEDC designed landings for NYC Ferry

[@HenrysAdventures]

I'll look forward to seeing what's the least used River Pier next year!

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Mmmm pie! My favorite pie is key lime pie. It's the newest and least used river pier? Interesting

[@lewis72]

I see a pattern forming here. When can we see the least used bus stop ? Maybe the least used cycle rack or the least used hat stand ? I look forward to them.

[@highpath4776]

At present all piers seem to be on the Thames, how about extending the network (Roding to Barking at Least if not Ilford, Grand Union To Kings Cross ? Wandle to Earlsfield, Brent To Brent Cross ?

[@Paul_Lucas]

Ah Geoff this is literally my neck of the woods! We live on the little green you finished in! I hope you stopped and looked at the sign and memorial - it's not only a regular war memorial but was first erected to commemorate the Silvertown explosion of 1917, where a TNT factory requisitioned for the war exploded killing 73 people and damaging 60,000 properties: www.museumoflondon.org.uk/discover/silvertown-explosion-100-years-photographs-docklands The riverbus was free to some residents of the Royal Wharf development for a week (I didn't use it, oops!) after it opened. I'm not sure if those users are counted in the official figures or not.

[@geofftech2]

i did! i have video of the sign! "London's largest explosion ... TNT". but it did not make the final cut. Okay.... so i walked right by you then, heh heh!

[@DavidShepheard]

@@geofftech2 Maybe you can stick that in the "DVD Extras" video for this video. ;-)

[@mixererunio1757]

Most used stations (and piers) would be interesting. I really would like to know what is most used tram station

[@mittfh]

"Life buoy - check. You don't see too many of those on the tube." I'd be a bit worried if there were - particularly on the deep level stations!

[@joermnyc]

mittfh every tube station is 15 stories underground, and underwater.

[@Jeagles]

Embankment has floodgates

[@Creyo1992]

I’m a resident from Royal Wharf, I can say our pier literally just opened at the end of 2019 And our Royal Wharf community is still brand new, lot people soon to be moving in. But to be fair, taking boat is far more expensive than taking DLR from here. I hope the council can adjust the price for boat, so more people get to use this pier

[@MrBnsftrain]

I was wondering when you would cover the London Riverboats. I only heard about them recently, and I thought there wasn't very much room for expansion. But I was proven wrong because this pier was added in 2019.

[@EtoileLion]

While the life preserver pods do resemble roundels, i'm not sure you're allowed to stylize them, as they are safety equipment meant to stand out for that purpose...

[@juniorballs6025]

This wholesome content is an antidote for the usual youtube whinging and arguing channels. Karma is a very real thing, great work 👍🇬🇧

[@brianfield792]

Junior Balls that's why I come here,

[@andyrichardsvideovlogs8835]

Fascinating. When are you doing a new follow-up series "London's Least Used Pie" ?

[@a4yster]

The funny part that I've been on that exact pier on feb 26, a day after your upload. I was more interested in the residential development around the place. It had the same vibe as Hudson Yards in NYC - lots of yet-to-be-finished high-rises for the affluent, but hardly any ppl. THe only real difference is that in London there are no New Jersey across the water.

[@geniusphil1]

Each river pier is the equivalent of 15 leagues under the sea.

[@Lic021]

I imagine they haven't put a roundel on the life buoy cover because in an emergency, someone might not realise there is a life buoy there. life buoy covers are designed to be highly visible. they usually have a small round instruction panel on the centre circle, but this can be used for branding instead, so a roundel could be placed on there perhaps

[@Dizzifizz]

Beautiful place! I literally recently just went and vlogged it all (on my channel) and it was so beautiful

[@stephenkittles1709]

Very good video 😁😁😁😁😁

[@TheRamtops]

I can't wait for " least used socks " 😂👍

[@icepee9252]

I'd love more videos about the river bus. It's a much underutilized transport channel.

[@mckenzie403]

I can feel the coldness of the wind. Even though I’m watching Geoff’s vid through my phone indoors. 😂

[@laurencec09]

Also I'd imagine those figures will go up as the weather improves, a lot of tourists must use the river buses during summer

[@nathanwulf]

Hi Geoff, we met just as you got off the train, hopefully see you again for a proper chat!

[@cactustown5237]

"Take photos of the thing that sticks out" 😆

[@wintrwunderland]

Given how this was made to serve an upcoming development, I guess this is the river bus version of Meridian Water?

[@MrID36]

I know it's not in London, and I don't know if you've made a video on it before, but I'd like to see you do a video on the Southend pier railway.

[@briangarrow448]

Fun fact- Washington state Ferry System is considered part of the state highway system. It is the most used marine highway system in the United States and one of the busiest in the world.

[@mayabashova]

Nice video

You should see what they've got in Hamburg. That is high tech and capacity. Surprisingly quick, although not as fast as the Thamesclippers.

[@terranceparsons5185]

Wow, those boats look really speedy

[@tonywallow964]

Nice

[@ivanovitchsimoesribeiro1944]

great! Mr Geoff , could you explain how to use the oyster card to take a River Bus trip on the Thames, please, and what is difference between Tames Clippers and others boats. This is my first visit to UK. thank you.

[@mrputtersly]

The link is called a 'Canting Brow' - I've worked on London Piers before and had to learn the terminology fast!

[@squeakers27]

This was a nice video, could you also look at the lest used pier that has been open for a while?

[@Victoria-bo9xk]

I have never used the Thames Clippers before but would like to try it just once.

[@eriol_mits3121]

Staying in London in a few weeks time for a music event at the 02. Staying near the excel so normally just take the cable car, across weather permitting. One year we and my brother were the last passengers on the line before the closed it for wind. Got off at the 02 side to a message saying “due to high wind the airline is now closed” never used the themes clippers might get the Catch the DLR from Canning Town, or walk my hangover off and take the clipper one of the days as never used them.

[@theflyingcoconut4058]

Mmmm... Pie!

[@matthewpike7811]

Hi Geoff, idea for a video. At the entrance to the Jubilee line at Waterloo there is a mural on the left hand side with times to destinations which are widely wrong. How about a video which actually times to each location in the pictures. An idea.

[@DavidBromage]

London's least used bus stop next? I'm guessing somewhere on the route 399 which averages 29 passengers per day.

[@scullytawoody4852]

You said it's TFL river boat do you have to pay extra or can you use the train tickets.?

[@peterpowis4145]

great video! btw have you been on the Wuppertal Schwebebahn in Germany? All the stations (20 i think) would be a great video if you ever go there!! :)

[@hannahk1306]

It would be great if it was easier to compare journeys on the different modes across London. Often I end up getting the tube because it's the most obvious, but walking or catching a bus or even a boat might be more convenient.

[@nataliella97]

I love this! my only wish is that our city ferries took metrocards the way these take oyster cards. considering how willing nyc is to let rockaway sink into the ocean though, I'm not sure if our ferries will be viable long enough for our government to make the switch.

[@caw25sha]

Geoff, have you thought about doing a video on The Woolwich Ferry. I have never been on it and probably never will but would like to see a video. Bit of trivia: Edith Nesbit's husband was skipper of the ferry.

[@btuckervideos4705]

I'm not a huge fan of boats, neither am I a huge fan of piers. But Geoff made a video about it, so I watch it and I enjoy it

[@Richardincancale]

The word you’re looking for is ‘dwell time’ - the time the train (or boat) is at the station (quai)... 😊

[@johnmurray8428]

What with the pub crawl, the DLR , all the least used stations and now the Thames clippers next time I am in the UK I will be busy seeing and doing all these things that never existed all those years ago when i lived there. Thank you.

[@theozwolf]

I can't help but wonder, planning to do least used cable car stop :):):)