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London cable car will leave public high and dry, say critics London cable car will leave public high and dry, say critics
(about 1 hour later)
The metallic booms across Greenwich this week signalled that work was almost complete on the three towers of London's newest landmark, sounding out over the Thames like futuristic minarets. At the base of one of the white steel edifices traversing the river from north Greenwich, a protective brace was being fitted to guard Boris Johnson's latest transport conceit – the Emirates Air Line – from errant boats.The metallic booms across Greenwich this week signalled that work was almost complete on the three towers of London's newest landmark, sounding out over the Thames like futuristic minarets. At the base of one of the white steel edifices traversing the river from north Greenwich, a protective brace was being fitted to guard Boris Johnson's latest transport conceit – the Emirates Air Line – from errant boats.
According to the mayor this grandly titled cable car, looming up to 90 metres over the O2 car parks and decaying industrial estates of Silvertown, is another step to regenerating the area. Beyond the yuppie flats that flank the docks are boroughs where more than 50% of children live in poverty. But critics fear it may prove a white elephant to rival the ill-fated Millennium Dome. According to the London mayor this grandly titled cable car, looming up to 90 metres over the O2 car parks and decaying industrial estates of Silvertown, is another step to regenerating the area. Beyond the yuppie flats that flank the docks are boroughs where more than 50% of children live in poverty. But critics fear it may prove a white elephant to rival the ill-fated Millennium Dome.
A project that was supposed to be delivered by private sponsorship has ended up being largely funded by the public purse after costs ballooned from an early estimate of £25m to more than £60m. Meanwhile the sponsors, Emirates, have made their way on to London's tube map – breaking, opponents say, pledges to keep the capital's transport infrastructure free from such indignity – while footing barely half the bill.A project that was supposed to be delivered by private sponsorship has ended up being largely funded by the public purse after costs ballooned from an early estimate of £25m to more than £60m. Meanwhile the sponsors, Emirates, have made their way on to London's tube map – breaking, opponents say, pledges to keep the capital's transport infrastructure free from such indignity – while footing barely half the bill.
The cable car has bagged two prestigious names in London for its money. Passengers can leave Emirates North Greenwich to land at Emirates Royal Docks – with no mention of Queen Victoria, who usually gives her name to the area. The cable car has bagged two prestigious names in the capital for its money. Passengers can leave Emirates North Greenwich to land at Emirates Royal Docks – with no mention of Queen Victoria, who usually gives her name to the area.
Mindful of the embarrassment a failure to deliver would bring, TfL continues to refrain from any pledge that the cable car will be ready for the London 2012 games, despite the bulk of the infrastructure being in place. Weeks of testing will be needed before the cabins are attached. Mindful of the embarrassment a failure to deliver would bring, Transport for London continues to refrain from any pledge that the cable car will be ready for the 2012 Games, despite the bulk of the infrastructure being in place. Weeks of testing will be needed before the cabins are attached.
Official projections are that 2 million people will use the cable car each year. The 1,150-metre journey along the cables across the Thames will take five minutes, potentially carrying about 2,000 people an hour in both directions, with a 10-person cabin leaving every 30 seconds. That, reckon TfL, is roughly equivalent to 30 buses an hour, and flying ones at that.Official projections are that 2 million people will use the cable car each year. The 1,150-metre journey along the cables across the Thames will take five minutes, potentially carrying about 2,000 people an hour in both directions, with a 10-person cabin leaving every 30 seconds. That, reckon TfL, is roughly equivalent to 30 buses an hour, and flying ones at that.
According to Danny Price, TfL's operations manager for Emirates Air Line, it is by no means mainly for tourists. "It's very much an integrated part of the London transport network – a key interchange for two key London locations, and born of the need to transfer people over the river – particularly on the east side," he said. "The O2 is the most popular entertainment centre in the UK and Excel is the busiest conference centre venue in Europe."According to Danny Price, TfL's operations manager for Emirates Air Line, it is by no means mainly for tourists. "It's very much an integrated part of the London transport network – a key interchange for two key London locations, and born of the need to transfer people over the river – particularly on the east side," he said. "The O2 is the most popular entertainment centre in the UK and Excel is the busiest conference centre venue in Europe."
Opponents disagree. Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Lib Dems in the London Assembly and chair of the committee scrutinising transport in the capital, said: "While the cable car will be an attractive addition to London's skyline I question whether it will provide a practical transport link for many people on a daily basis." Opponents disagree. Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the London assembly and chair of the committee scrutinising transport in the capital, said: "While the cable car will be an attractive addition to London's skyline I question whether it will provide a practical transport link for many people on a daily basis."
While it will briefly link two Olympic venues this summer – gymnastics and basketball at the O2 (renamed North Greenwich Arena for the Games), and combat sports at the Excel exhibition centre – it was, on a spring weekday in the sparsely populated docks, hard to spot much potential traffic.While it will briefly link two Olympic venues this summer – gymnastics and basketball at the O2 (renamed North Greenwich Arena for the Games), and combat sports at the Excel exhibition centre – it was, on a spring weekday in the sparsely populated docks, hard to spot much potential traffic.
Near the O2, Samantha Dissanayake, 31, a financial adviser from Woolwich, said: "We've got plenty of ways to get across the river so if its going to cost loads of money I think that money could be used elsewhere."Near the O2, Samantha Dissanayake, 31, a financial adviser from Woolwich, said: "We've got plenty of ways to get across the river so if its going to cost loads of money I think that money could be used elsewhere."
Andrei Ciobana, 28, a pharmacist from Shooters Hill, said: "I don't think a lot of people will use it, but tourists are definitely going to use it, everyone wants to see the new thing. But I'm not sure if people who work here are going to. People might use it if the tube has problems."Andrei Ciobana, 28, a pharmacist from Shooters Hill, said: "I don't think a lot of people will use it, but tourists are definitely going to use it, everyone wants to see the new thing. But I'm not sure if people who work here are going to. People might use it if the tube has problems."
Necessary or not, the Air Line has already been bracketed as another mayoral transport project whose optimistic promises of private funding have failed to match spiralling costs, alongside Boris bikes and neo-Routemasters that are still tantalisingly absent from most London bus routes.Necessary or not, the Air Line has already been bracketed as another mayoral transport project whose optimistic promises of private funding have failed to match spiralling costs, alongside Boris bikes and neo-Routemasters that are still tantalisingly absent from most London bus routes.
Pidgeon said: "When fare rises have been hiked up so much by Boris Johnson many people will now question why he has failed to deliver on his pledge not to pour public money into the cable car."Pidgeon said: "When fare rises have been hiked up so much by Boris Johnson many people will now question why he has failed to deliver on his pledge not to pour public money into the cable car."
Price, though, said it was a neat solution to the challenge of how to move people across the river. "TfL realised this could be delivered in a very short amount of time compared to other modes – construction started only 12 months ago."Price, though, said it was a neat solution to the challenge of how to move people across the river. "TfL realised this could be delivered in a very short amount of time compared to other modes – construction started only 12 months ago."
Fares are yet to be set. TfL says ticketing will be compatible with Oyster cards and comparable to the riverboat model, which suggests it will cost between £3-5 for a single, with possible discounts for regular users. Fares are yet to be set. TfL says ticketing will be compatible with Oyster travel cards and comparable to the riverboat model, which suggests it will cost between £3-5 for a single, with possible discounts for regular users.
"It is a completely unique and exciting travel experience for London. People will take it to heart as a new iconic and dynamic landmark," said Price. "At 90 metres you're going to have stunning views of London – right over to the arch of Wembley." He recommends timing a visit with the sun going down for maximum effect. For sunsets, at least, few should argue it beats the tube."It is a completely unique and exciting travel experience for London. People will take it to heart as a new iconic and dynamic landmark," said Price. "At 90 metres you're going to have stunning views of London – right over to the arch of Wembley." He recommends timing a visit with the sun going down for maximum effect. For sunsets, at least, few should argue it beats the tube.