Emirates Air Line UK’s first urban cable car opens in London

Monday, 2 July 2012 01:14 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Emirates Air Line, the UK’s first urban cable car, has opened, giving residents and visitors alike a new way to cross London’s River Thames.

Passengers can now travel up to 90 metres above one of the world’s most famous waterways, capturing dramatic views of the City, Canary Wharf, historic Greenwich, the Thames Barrier and the Olympic Park.

The new river crossing in east London can be used by pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists. Every 30 seconds, they can board one of the 34 cabins from two brand new terminals, Emirates Greenwich Peninsula and Emirates Royal Docks. A journey across the 1.1 kilometre cable line takes up to 10 minutes.

Emirates’ AED 204 million (£36m) sponsorship of the cable car project was announced in October of last year in an agreement between the airline, the Mayor’s office and Transport for London (TfL).

“The Emirates Air Line is a stunning addition to London’s transport network, providing a much needed new connection across the Thames,” said Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. “I am sure the Emirates Air Line is now set to be a must-see destination in its own right, giving people the chance to drink in breath-taking panoramic views. Crucially, the Emirates Air Line supports my ambitious plans to revive the neighbouring areas, which have been neglected for decades, creating jobs for Londoners and stimulating growth.”

The main construction of the Emirates Air Line, led by Mace, has involved more than 1,500 people on sites both sides of the river, helping to deliver the newest addition to the capital’s transport network. Mace Macro will employ more than 50 people to operate the scheme.

“This is an historic day for the UK and a momentous day for London,” said Peter Hendy CBE, London’s Transport Commissioner. “The Emirates Air Line has been delivered in just two years, an incredibly short amount of time for the capital’s newest mode of transport to be up and running. The engineering achievements that have been delivered have been no mean feat and I’m delighted to have been on board for the first flight with the Mayor and Emirates today.”

The Emirates Air Line knits into London’s existing transport network providing an interchange with the Jubilee line and Docklands Light Railway. It will be open seven days a week and passengers can buy their boarding passes from vending machines or the ticket offices at both Terminals.