Deputy mayor of London for transport, Val Shawcross, and councillor Govindia, leader of Wandsworth Council, have welcomed 26 Chelsea Pensioners aboard for a trip to City Hall at the official celebration of the new Battersea Power Station River Bus.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the pier, a party of Chelsea Pensioners joined Shawcross, and members of the Battersea Power Station team aboard an MBNA Thames Clippers vessel travelling to London Bridge City, the nearest pier to City Hall.
The River Bus service, operated by MBNA Thames Clippers, brings Battersea Power Station within 15 minutes of Embankment for the West End, 19 minutes of Blackfriars for the City and 40 minutes of Canary Wharf.
Boats run every 20 minutes during peak commuting hours and every 30 minutes off-peak and at weekends.
The service provides an additional route for residents and workers at Battersea Power Station as well as the thousands of visitors to Circus West Village, the first phase of the regeneration project to complete.
Circus West Village is the home of several new restaurants, bars, shops, cafes and a new arts and events venue, The Village Hall.
Shawcross said: “I was delighted to officially open the new Battersea Power Station pier and to welcome the Chelsea Pensioners aboard the River Bus for a visit to City Hall.
“Encouraging greater use of the Thames is a vital part of the mayor’s transport strategy, and the Power Station pier will help to increase river passenger numbers and keep the city moving.”
The Malaysian shareholders of the Battersea Power Station project are committed to giving back to the communities in which they operate.
To mark the official opening of the new service, in partnership with MBNA Thames Clippers, Battersea Power Station Development Company has given Chelsea Pensioners unlimited complimentary trips on the River Bus service so they can enjoy journeying through London by boat.