Greenwich cable car green lit
Plans to build a cable car across the Thames from the O2 to the Excel Centre have been green lit by TfL. Construction is expected to start this summer.
Concerns about the extent to which the public will recoup the initial funding we are contributing have been waved away in a bid to open the service in time for the Olympic Games, but that is a massive challenge, with even the TfL release admitting that that target "remains an extremely challenging timeline for a complex project." An article in Building on April 15th suggested that work could take two years.
The service will be able to carry up to 2,500 people an hour, providing a fun, but not especially useful new transport option for South East London and a new river crossing, which East London is desperately short of.
Much of the cost of the cable car will be met through sponsorship, similar to the Barclay's sponsorship of the Boris bikes.
10 comments:
The TFL cycle hire scheme was initiated by Ken Livingstone.
yes, yes. Unfotunately, the TFL cycle hire scheme, initiated by Ken Livingstone is not as catchy.
I dunno, "Kenny Farthing" has a ring to it.
That's awesome! I'm moving to the Millenium Village
More ferry services across the Thames would be cheaper and quicker to get up and running.
I love "Kenny Farthing"!
A better ferry service might be cheaper but less attractive for sponsors. Although the Woolwich ferry used to be two boats but now seems to usually operate on one - how much would a second one cost? The infrastructure (massive waiting car parks) is already there.
But as well as this cable car - we have to go for it. As said above "awesome".
Fabulous.
Cheap, innovative. Will be useful both as a transport link AND will become a tourist attraction.
An all round win.
However, it fails to address the considerable lack of cross river road capacity in east London. We need another Blackwall Tunnel, a new Dartford Bridge and a crossing at Silvertown.
Also am I the only one to bemoan the woeful under utilisation of the river as a transport artery. How relatively cheap and easy would it be to put decent links in place. But no-one will subsidise it. Sad because we continue to subsidise godawful train companies.
Susadies for a service that cannot stand on its own two feet? Lefty sandle wearing etc, etc...
I think you mean corduroy brigade.
However, there is nothing wrong with the state subsidising a project to get it going.
A well run cable car scheme could run profitably - with help to get off the ground. Metaphorically.
A well run riverboat service would still need public subsidy - but probably less of a subsidy than we give to some train companies. And riverboats could provide a better service.
I've no objection to high taxes, high subsidies and having lots of government supported services - providing the services are good, efficient and value for money.
My objection is when they're none of these things.
Genuine question Lou - what's wrong with the riverboat service at the moment? It's there for commuters, Oyster card readers etc..
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