Docklands Light Ropeway

Mayor Boris Johnson and Emirates CEO Tim Clark last Thursday inaugurated the Emirates Air Line, the new Thames gateway and destined to become a major tourist attraction for London in its own right.  It offers terrific value, with each journey from £1.60.  Operated by the DLR the nickname ‘Docklands Light Ropeway’ has already stuck.

Emirates, the airline that is, has really stolen a march on other carriers in terms of cost effective marketing, the cable car on all TfL maps and promotions for North Greenwich (02) adorned with adverts for the airline.

Hardly a new invention, with mountain cable cars around in Switzerland for 100 years, the Emirates Air Line, rather like the London Eye (a large ferris wheel in truth), is destined to be copied around the world.  

Journey times during commuter hours (07:00-10:00 and 15:00-21:00 during the summer) are approximately five minutes.  TfL recognises that some visitors will want to experience the journey for as long as possible so the scheme will operate at slower speeds during non-commuter periods, meaning a single journey could last up to 10 minutes. www.tfl.gov.uk

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