Ford has launched its first European ‘commuter shuttle service’ in London, part of its strategy to explore new mobility opportunities in urban areas. The service was recently given the go-ahead by London’s transport regulator, Transport for London (TfL).
Some 14 minibuses will operate four routes, use London’s bus lanes, offering Wi-Fi and aircon on board. The ride-share service is booked through an app and Ford says the service is targeting ‘first- and last-mile commuting’.
Go deeper with GlobalData
It is also designed for those living in areas ‘currently underserved by public transport’.
The service is branded ‘Chariot’ and it enables passengers to complete the first and last mile of their journey faster and more comfortably by connecting them with nearby transit hubs and underground stations.
The service in London kicked off this week with four Chariot routes designed to complement the city’s existing public transport system.
“As well-served as London is by public transport, the daily commute can still be a bit of a slog for some in the city. Chariot is one way of providing residents with reliable, safe and affordable transportation,” said Sarah Jayne Williams, director, Ford Smart Mobility, Europe.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataFour London routes, informed by a detailed analysis of urban areas, are designed to connect commuters living in densely populated areas to existing transport networks. The routes will help fill transportation gaps between several rapidly growing neighborhoods and six London transport hubs: Clapham Junction, North Greenwich, Abbey Wood, Kennington, Vauxhall, and Battersea Park; and will also help commuters with their onwards journey on the Victoria Line, Northern Line, London Overground, National Rail – as well as Thames River Boat Services and the Emirates Cable Car.
From now until Feb. 14 commuters will be able to use the service for free, on a first come first served basis, by inserting voucher code HELLOLDN in the payment section. Then, with a monthly pass, single journeys cost from GBP1.60, with single pay-as-you-go rides at GBP2.40.
The routes – with naming conventions helpfully utilising consonant alliteration – are as follows:
- The ‘Battersea Bullet’ will serve the recently opened Battersea Power Station mixed-use neighbourhood and the Nine Elms area – yet to be fully connected to the main transport networks – and connect to the Victoria Line, in Vauxhall and the Northern Line, at Kennington
- The ‘Wandsworth Wanderer’ will link residents living in new developments, such as the Riverside Quarter complex in Wandsworth, with Clapham Junction allowing them to transfer onto National Rail, London Overground and Gatwick Express services
- The ‘Nuxley Navigator’ will connect the increasingly popular residential areas of Belvedere and Nuxley Village to Abbey Wood station and National Rail services to London Bridge, as well as the forthcoming Elizabeth Line
- The ‘Shooters Hill Shot’ will connect residential areas of the Royal Borough of Greenwich to North Greenwich Underground Station for easy access westbound to Canary Wharf and central London and eastbound to ExCeL and City Airport, as well as nearby major attractions like the O2
Up to six shuttles per hour will run at peak times, with 14 fuel-efficient minibuses. The 14-seater passenger shuttles will be able to use London’s bus lanes, offer Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and overhead storage for laptop bags and briefcases. Selected shuttles will be wheelchair accessible at launch, and the professional drivers will be trained to assist passengers with special needs.
Chariot is accessed via a smartphone app that enables users to search for a nearby route and the closest available transport hub address. The app – offering dedicated customer support – will then locate the nearest convenient pickup point. Passengers can book a seat and track in real time the progress of shuttles that run Monday to Friday, during the rush hour.
In addition to a commuter service, Chariot is exploring enterprise and charter services in London.
London is the sixth city to be served by Chariot, which operates in the US in San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Columbus, and Austin.
Ford says the ride sharing service has the potential to be a part of measures aimed at tackling both congestion and air quality issues, and to address gaps in the transport system and completing commuter options. Altogether, the company runs 108 routes daily and plans to expand to additional cities both in the U.S. and internationally.
“Cities globally are dealing with increased congestion and environmental issues,” said Marcy Klevorn, president, Ford Mobility. “Ford is helping to alleviate these challenges by developing mobility solutions – such as Chariot – that are finely tuned to the unique challenges of commuters in different locations, addressing gaps in transport systems and completing their travel with first- and last-mile additions.”
