A Review of the Emirates Air-Line
I think it’s only fair that I put down all my thoughts on the Emirates Air-Line, so that others can criticise what I have said.
Construction and Design
People have criticised the cost of the cable-car, but then they are not buying a cheap cable-car, but a quality one designed for a long life.
As far as I can tell, everything looks and feels right. As an example, the seats in the gondolas are very comfortable and of a standard you’d expect in a quality commuter train. The doors close tightly and there was no noise at all. There was little sway and only a slight downwards movement as the gondola descended into North Greenwich.
It took a lot to get C into something like this, but I think she’d have approved.
Ticketing and Boarding
As I showed here, there was a bit of a queue, when I arrived due to people having to buy their boarding passes.
Because I was using my Oyster card, I was allowed to bypass the ticket desks and go straight to boarding. Whether they will allow this at all times, I do not know, but it certainly meant I got the cheaper Oyster ticket (£3.20 instead of £4.30) and speedy boarding as well.
Freedom Passes
You don’t get the Emirates Air-Line free with a Freedom Pass, but you do get a discount on the ticket if you queue up at the ticket office. Judging by the number of people I saw in their last third of life at the system, it will be popular, as it gives such wonderful views if the city. But let’s face it, the cost is only a pound more than a cappuccino in Starbucks.
On Board
It really was very smooth and probably more so than the system in Singapore, that I travelled on with C. That system incidentally costs £13.0 for a round trip, whereas a return ticket on the Emirates Air-line is £6.40.
I thought you might get intrusive adverts, but you only got the odd subtle ones, like “Thank you for using the Emirates air-line”. I can live with that.
Disabled Access
I saw three wheel-chair passengers in the short time, I was there and one, who I think was from North America with a really hi-tech wheelchair, said it was very good. They also have lifts at both ends to get to the loading point, which means that anybody on crutches or sticks, should have no trouble getting on. There was plenty of staff about, but remember it is early days. On the other hand, the contractor, MACE, is operating the system at present and I suspect they’d like to sell more based on their experience with the Emirates Air-Line.
In Conclusion
With my experience of project management, I’ve seen few projects with as high an overall standard as this one.
Small Problems
There is a major small problem with the overall system and that is that kids will love it. Or mine certainly would have done! So parents might get a bit fed up with being pestered for a ride.
I also think that a few more cafes and restaurants at the Royal Docks end are needed. But that is not really a problem, but an opportunity.
A Video of My Trip on the Emirates Air-Line
I took a video of the trip on the Emirates Air-Line and it is shown here.
I was suffering a bit of technical problems with the camera and I think I’ll take another one later. Possibly from the other direction from North Greenwich to Royal Docks.
London Bridge Is Falling Down
Or at least the roof is leaking!
London Bridge Is Falling Down
There were buckets everywhere.
A Lancaster Over Docklands
Whilst waiting for the trip over the Emirates Air-Line, I saw the Lancaster flying up the River to the opening of the Bomber Command Memorial.
A Lancaster Over Docklands
It made an impressive sight as it passed the cable-car.
The Emirates Air-Line Was Busy
The Emirates Air-Line opened today at midday. It was busy at both ends. These pictures shown the northern end at Royal Victoria Dock.
I don’t know whether they are always going to do this, but the staff went down the queues and if you had a valid Oyster card, with enough on it, they let you straight through to the gates. Those that needed to buy a ticket, had to wait.
Note that I actually travelled to the cable-car by going to Royal Victoria station on the DLR from Bank. I changed at Poplar station, but don’t worry as there are always staff to point lost passengers on their way. In some ways the DLR has benefited by a decision to have unmanned stations, except at interchanges. Each train has no driver, but a Train Captain and rarely is there not someone at hand for advice or help. The DLR’s passenger safety record is I believe very good.
A Dead Bus Outside NatWorst
Apparently, all of the passengers had jumped into the branch to get their money out. The cashiers decided to pay everybody out in 5p. pieces and the result was the extra weight caused the bus to stall and break down.
A Dead Bus Outside NatWorst
Apparently this ruse was tried in 1745 to stop a run on the Bank of England, when Bonnie Prince Charlie was marching on London. In those days though they used sixpences.
The Clockwork Orange
The bus advertising Ed Sheeran was also around.
The Clockwork Orange on Route 38
I’ve heard it referred to as The Clockwork Orange.
Ed Sheeran incidentally, was praised for his performance in the recent BBC Radio 1’s Weekend at Hackney.
New Buses for London Are Now Running In Convoy
Bus route 38 in London is one those with the highest frequency of buses. I have joked before that they often run in convoy and today for the first time, I saw two New Buses for London running together on the Balls Pond Road.
New Buses for London in Convoy
Perhaps, they are avoiding the U-boats in the Regents Canal to the South! Or the hippopotami in the New River.
There’s An Article Here
The Britain From Above web site has some good photographs of stations. This link shows a good one of Marylebone and the Great Central Hotel in front.
I actually think, that a shot of Marylebone from the same place would look very much the same today, except for diesel instead of steam trains.
Someone will write the article.
On a more serious note, railway and other historians will use the database of pictures to sort out, what was there in the 1920s and 30s and how something should be restored. And also to enliven dull articles.
The Anonymous Widower 