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.
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.
The Emirates Air-Line Opens On June 28th
It has been announced that the new cable-car in East London will open on the 28th of June.
I shall be there with a camera.
Can I use it on my Freedom Pass? I’ve now heard the answer is no! But I can see their reasoning, as otherwise pensioners would treat it as a free ride in a theme – park.
C Wouldn’t Have Gone In These!
The cars are now up on the Emirates Air-Line
Although they weren’t running this morning.
C only went on a cable car once. It was in Singapore. And that was only after a lot of protests! I don’t think she’d heard about the tragedy that happened with that cable car.
The Cables on the Emirates Air-Line Are Up
These pictures taken from both sides of the Thames, show that the cables for the Emirates Air-Line are now in place.
I should think that it’ll be there sooner than many people think. You can just see the cables on one of the pictures taken from Greenwich.
The Royal Docks Terminal of the Emirates Air-Line
These pictures are a few bad ones of the new Royal Docks terminal of the Emirates Air-Line.
It looks like that once the fences come down, it will look a lot better. The line will also give a new route to the O2 and spectacular views of London.
The terminal is a short walk from Royal Victoria station on the Docklands Light Railway.
Note that since the original post, I’ve added a few pictures of the intermediate cable towers. These pictures were either taken from or around West Silvertown station or from the top deck of a 474 bus, which runs from Canning Town station along the line of Docklands Light Railway to London City Airport and further to the east.
A Good Safety Slogan
I took this picture on the site of the Royal Docks terminal of the new Emirates Air-Line.
A Good Safety Slogan
It’s so obvious, I’m surprised I’ve not seen it before.
The Emirates Air-Line Progresses
I took some pictures a few weeks ago of the Emirates Air-Line before. But they were in the dark.
These ones are much better.
The Anonymous Widower 