Uber-Expensive Boat

Riding Thames Clippers has always been relatively expensive - for example it's over £11 for a hop between Westminster and North Greenwich. But it became even more expensive a fortnight ago when, with an absolute minimum of fuss, they introduced peak and off-peak fares. You'll never guess when peak hours are, and even after my reveal you won't believe it. Previously if you swiped with Oyster or contactless you paid the same fare no matter what time of day it was. It's been like this since September 2015 when the ability to tap in was first made available (this also when the three zones were introduced - West, Central and East). Then suddenly on July 5th 2026 a differential emerged, described on the website as 'Summer prices'. The peak fare increase is anything from £1.20 for journeys in a single outer zone to £3.60 for a journey in all three zones. I suspect most travellers ride two zones and that's an extra £2.30. If you're seeking an underlying rationale, all of these represent a 20%…