Chariot will be a a pre-bookable service through a phone app. The minibus service under the Chariot brand had originally asked for permission to run six fixed-routes in the city.
On Monday, TfL, approved four of these six routes. Chariot’s proposed routes in Battersea, Bexley, Greenwich and Wandsworth were approved, while the routes in Hammersmith and Southwark were refused.
A TfL spokesperson said:
“This service has the potential to provide useful transport links in the areas they will serve, largely outside central London, and we will carefully monitor this trial. We declined two of Chariot’s proposed routes following comments from local residents, concerns about where the services could safely stop and to ensure any new service complements existing services. We’re happy to work with technology companies to harness innovation that could improve connectivity in London, in line with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.”
The US carmaker Ford bought the start-up Chariot for around £50m last year. The service currently runs in some US cities such as San Francisco, New York, Austin and Seattle.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineFord’s new ‘Chariot’ pre-book minibus service has Hammersmith route rejected
Short Headline'Chariot' minibus service has Hammersmith route rejected
Standfirst
Chariot will be a a pre-bookable service through a phone app. The minibus service under the Chariot brand had originally asked for permission to run six fixed-routes in the city.
On Monday, TfL, approved four of these six routes. Chariot’s proposed routes in Battersea, Bexley, Greenwich and Wandsworth were approved, while the routes in Hammersmith and Southwark were refused.
A TfL spokesperson said:
“This service has the potential to provide useful transport links in the areas they will serve, largely outside central London, and we will carefully monitor this trial. We declined two of Chariot’s proposed routes following comments from local residents, concerns about where the services could safely stop and to ensure any new service complements existing services. We’re happy to work with technology companies to harness innovation that could improve connectivity in London, in line with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.”
The US carmaker Ford bought the start-up Chariot for around £50m last year. The service currently runs in some US cities such as San Francisco, New York, Austin and Seattle.
