An aerial view along the River Thames looking towards London in the United Kingdom
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Thames Estuary light freight study

Our feasibility report for the Thames Estuary Growth Board and the Port of London Authority recommended how the river could be used to transport light freight – creating new jobs, reducing congestion and pushing London forward on the path to net zero.

Location

  • London, United Kingdom

Revealing the untapped potential for freight on the River Thames

The River Thames was once a major artery for freight through London. Could its heyday return if the city were to make use of this natural resource? We studied the commercial feasibility and impact on vehicle movements of moving light freight – parcels, food, beverages and retail goods – on the river. 

Our research suggested that river freight could be competitive if it handled just 3%  of the 700 million parcels destined for London every year. These river journeys would replace those made by 3.5 tonne vans and similar vehicles. In London, as well as contributing to congestion, freight vehicles are estimated to account for 33% of NOx emissions, 29% of PM2.5 emissions and 23% of CO2 emissions.

WSP’s proposed solution is to carry river freight on vessels powered by greener fuels and utilise electric cargo bikes for the final mile. The benefits would be a reduction in congestion and the creation of a net-zero transport network for high-demand, hard-to-access areas of London. It would also create between 60 and 800 new jobs, which in turn would generate between £4.5m and £60m in gross added value.

The findings from our report are clear: moving light freight onto the River Thames is not only feasible, but has invaluable benefits. Cost is an overriding issue in transportation, but at the right scale, it can easily be competitive with road freight, particularly as new technologies and innovations develop.
Jim Coleman Head of Economics at WSP

To evaluate the potential for river freight, we began by  consulting with stakeholders including potential customers and river operators to establish a framework around which a viable model  could be developed and tested. 

After assessing which segments of the light freight market were best suited to the river, we set out the business-as-usual scenario against which we could compare the proposed end-to-end solution. Having identified the benefits a modal shift to river freight could bring, we set out the case for investment and public intervention. 

Finally, we proposed a series of actions to realise this opportunity – from developing detailed options for developing piers to seeking out businesses to become anchor clients.

The Thames is home to the UK’s largest port and inland waterway and provides a sustainable and reliable, congestion-free highway into the heart of the capital. The WSP report shows how ‘joining the dots’ between port and consumer is a very real possibility and one which will deliver manifest environmental and wider social benefits.
James Trimmer Director of Planning and Environment for the Port of London Authority

We received excellent feedback from the Thames Estuary Growth Board for our work.

WSP delivered an exceptional piece of work that was data-led and provided a very clear level of detail that has greatly helped us focus on what we need to deliver to make this initiative happen and quickly. Their thorough investigation through a wide number of stakeholders was greatly helped by their knowledge and experience of the logistics sector and respect they have in this sector, they provided more than we had reasonably expected. I have no question in recommending them to those wishing to engage them in this sector in the future.
Vice-Chair and Lead Board member Thames Estuary Growth Board, River Freight Project 2021

We are continuing to help make river freight a reality. We have been appointed to undertake a new phase of work looking at how river operators can use available financial incentives, such as the Modal Shift Revenue Support grant, to support river freight operations.

As well as pointing the way forward for freight on the River Thames, our work opens possibilities for cities across the UK and around the world that want to make more of their underused waterways for low-carbon freight.

Other challenges that we have overcome