 London to get cable car over the Thames
07-04-11
A cable car crossing the Thames has been approved east of Tower Bridge, promising to vastly reduce journey times crossing the river for pedestrians and cyclists.
The cable car will transport 2500 people every hour in 34 cabins. Each cabin will have a maximum capacity of 10 passengers and will depart every thirty seconds. The Project has been approved by the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Newham and the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation.
The exact route has already been confirmed. The northern station will be in the Royal Victoria Dock, 2 minutes walk from the DLR and 5 minutes to the Excel centre. The southern station will be 4 minutes walk from the O2, North Greenwich tube and bus stations
With a great deal of funds vested in Crossrail and tube upgrades, Transport for London is trying to avoid spending public money on the project, estimated to cost £40m. Instead, they are looking for third-party funding and a mixture of sponsorship, advertising and fares to cover the cost. However, they are also cautious to avoid promising that public money won't be spent.
The consultations for the project received strong local support, with 83% of respondents being local residents or working locally. 89% agreed or strongly agreed that it would be an exciting new feature for London. 87% agreed or strongly agreed it would provide a great way to get across the River Thames.
|
