From summer 2012, the cable car will allow pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists to cross the river Thames within five minutes, from terminals at Emirates Greenwich Peninsula and Emirates Royal Docks.
Emirates have sponsored the fast, regular and accessible crossing in a deal worth £36m over 10 years. The crossing will encourage regeneration in the area and provide access to visitor attractions.
As a new landmark on the London skyline, it will connect local communities, improve access to visitor destinations either side of the river and speed up river crossings.
It will provide:
- Direct access between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks in five minutes
- Cabins every 30 seconds
- Direct link between the O2 arena and the ExCeL Centre
- An accessible and bike-friendly service
- A new visitor attraction for east London
- A low-emission form of transport
- Another travel option for Oyster cardholders
It will also encourage regeneration at The Royal Docks and Greenwich Peninsula, each a dedicated enterprize zone, with plans for a floating village, SS Robin and Siemens Technology Centre to be opened on the north side of the river.
Construction of the Emirates Air Line is well under way and we aim to complete the project by summer 2012.
The journey across the River Thames will take approximately five minutes, with 34 cabins arriving and departing every 30-40 seconds.
Each cabin will accommodate up to 10 seated passengers, and will be fully accessible to both wheelchair users and bicycles.
Operating hours and fares, including private cabin hire, are being finalised and will be announced before launch.
Map of the new river crossing:
Construction
Mace have been contracted to build the Emirates Air Line and work is well under way on both sides of the river.
- Construction of the three towers is nearing completion
- The two terminals - Emirates Royal Docks (North Terminal) and Emirates North Greenwich Terminal (South Terminal) - are under construction
- The one-kilometre-long cable, which will carry the cabins across the River Thames, is in the process of being connected to the towers
- Following the completion of the three towers, terminals and installation of the cable, we will start testing the cable car system. This is scheduled for spring 2012