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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2012 4:43:01 GMT
Sadly the chairman of TfL doesn’t seem to have a particularly good understanding of the capital’s public transport needs. You would have thought that when the private sector turned down the chance to get involved he would have realised that this was not a commercially viable scheme but instead he ploughed on and paid for it out of TfL’s budget.
I expect that initially prices will be high in order to recoup the initial outlay and operating costs but when it fails to attract enough business they will cut fares in the hope that will increase passenger numbers and then finally it will need to be subsidised until someone has the sense to scrap it.
If people want a breathtaking view of London they will go to the London Eye, walking distance from Big Ben, Trafalgar Square and the rest of Central London’s tourist sites, why go all the way out to SE10?
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Post by su31 on May 10, 2012 5:08:09 GMT
I don't have a problem with the name 'Emirates Air Line' but the stations are called 'Emirates Royal Docks' & 'Emirates Greenwich Peninsula' which really bugs me, not only does the word 'Emirates' not describe the stations location at all (which is what a station name is for) but this also means that they have to change the station name when the Emirates Sponsorship is up. I guess it's sort of along the lines (pardon the pun) of the once-labelled "IKEA Ampere Way" Tram stop, or even re-naming Tamworth Road Tram stop "Centrale" after a shopping centre... |
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2012 13:42:18 GMT
Ok, so they've provided lifts for people in wheelchairs, but how the hell are they supposed to board through the narrow door of a moving vehicle? I notice the wheelchair-bound passenger (and bikes!) only made an appearance in the initial lift-boarding stage at the station. Actually, how did they get the "boarding-whilst-moving" thing past health and safety? |
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Post by rsdworker on May 10, 2012 16:54:09 GMT
Ok, so they've provided lifts for people in wheelchairs, but how the hell are they supposed to board through the narrow door of a moving vehicle? I notice the wheelchair-bound passenger (and bikes!) only made an appearance in the initial lift-boarding stage at the station. Actually, how did they get the "boarding-whilst-moving" thing past health and safety? if you look at Alton towers - there space for wheelchairs on each gondals - i been on it and the moving is more simllar to big wheel - its moves slowly then once the car leaves - its go fast speed the doors are wide enough for wheelchair to get inside - i remember days when alton towers had speical gondals for disabled those was had wheelchair symbol on doors = usually two or three gondals present for runs - inside had middle seating removed - i try to find old photos of gondals - but newer one that alton towers have now is same one that Emirates Airline has now the older not accessible gondals at alton tower had middle seating - few times i had squeeze in on space front of doors link - gallery.towersalmanac.com/displayimage.php?album=391&pos=2this is interior of old cabin layout - the disabled access cabins have no middle seating to allow wheelchairs in |
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on May 10, 2012 18:28:17 GMT
Actually, how did they get the "boarding-whilst-moving" thing past health and safety? Common practice on a télécabine, I'm sure it passed a Risk Assesment in the same way that the London Eye has. IME when a restricted mobility passenger boards system is either slowed right down or even stopped momentarily. Similar to what happens when an errant skier tried to sit on the arm rest of a télésiège (four seats enough for four people; we thought) and decides to bail instead. ;D |
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Post by crusty54 on May 11, 2012 18:53:38 GMT
Testing run at full tilt when I went past about an hour ago. Looked like a full set of gondalas.
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Post by Chris M on May 11, 2012 19:15:29 GMT
That's what I saw as well, they were testing at a variety of speeds, including stopped and very fast (and looking out the library window they're still at it as I type). They do sway quite a bit in today's strong breeze when stopped, at least when empty, and a little bit when exiting the south terminal building. As for the distance from North Greenwich station, I'm a quick walker and it took me 6 minutes from the closest bus stop to the hoardings. add another 2 minutes if your coming from the Jubilee Line platforms. It will be another minute from the hoarding to the actual station, then probably 1-2 minutes plus queuing time from there to getting into a gondola. The advertised crossing time is 5 minutes, which is likely to be the journey time and it will be about 5 minutes from exiting the gondola to Custom House station for a fast walker. The total time North Greenwich to Custom House will therefore be approximately: | 7 minutes | North Greenwich station to Greenwich Peninsula station | | 2 minutes | station entrance to boarding Gondola (assuming no queue) | | 5 minutes | crossing time | | 5 minutes | Royal Docks station to Custom House station | | 19 minutes | Total (minimum) |
The TfL journey planner advertises North Greenwich to Custom House by Jubilee and DLR as taking between 6 and 9 minutes departing now. |
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Post by crusty54 on May 12, 2012 9:41:58 GMT
That's what I saw as well, they were testing at a variety of speeds, including stopped and very fast (and looking out the library window they're still at it as I type). They do sway quite a bit in today's strong breeze when stopped, at least when empty, and a little bit when exiting the south terminal building. As for the distance from North Greenwich station, I'm a quick walker and it took me 6 minutes from the closest bus stop to the hoardings. add another 2 minutes if your coming from the Jubilee Line platforms. It will be another minute from the hoarding to the actual station, then probably 1-2 minutes plus queuing time from there to getting into a gondola. The advertised crossing time is 5 minutes, which is likely to be the journey time and it will be about 5 minutes from exiting the gondola to Custom House station for a fast walker. The total time North Greenwich to Custom House will therefore be approximately: | 7 minutes | North Greenwich station to Greenwich Peninsula station | | 2 minutes | station entrance to boarding Gondola (assuming no queue) | | 5 minutes | crossing time | | 5 minutes | Royal Docks station to Custom House station | | 19 minutes | Total (minimum) |
The TfL journey planner advertises North Greenwich to Custom House by Jubilee and DLR as taking between 6 and 9 minutes departing now. Would suggest that this is more about getting to events at the O2 and ExCel from hotels either side of the river. |
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2012 11:52:08 GMT
If it's in the main for the 02 and ExCel, it only needs to be an exhibition service like the Olympia line. ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2012 12:38:56 GMT
However if its like systems in the Alps, then be prepared for a few teething troubles - which will doubtless be blown out of all proportion in the media. I hope it's only the teething troubles which will be blown out of all proportion and not the cars themselves! |
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Post by Chris M on May 12, 2012 16:34:11 GMT
Would suggest that this is more about getting to events at the O2 and ExCel from hotels either side of the river. While the north station is quite well situated for the hotels west of ExCeL (and not at all for those to the east), Greenwich Peninsula is the wrong side of North Greenwich for the majority of the hotels associated with the O2 so it'll still be quicker via Canning Town. |
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Post by Deep Level on May 12, 2012 17:06:48 GMT
I've been trying to get photos of testing for a while but I went down there 3 days ago at the only time this week that testing wasn't taking place  , but my brother got some for me to day finally ;D, just waiting for them so that I can watermark and upload them  . |
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Post by ianvisits on May 12, 2012 19:24:56 GMT
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Post by Deep Level on May 12, 2012 19:33:53 GMT
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Post by Chris M on May 12, 2012 20:30:53 GMT
And that's just the western end of the ~580-metre long building (as measured on Google Maps satellite view). As the crow flies, the Royal Docks station is about: - 500 metres from the western end of ExCeL (the walking route will be longer, but possibly not by a huge amount)
- 1100 metres from the eastern end of ExCeL.
- 180 metres from Royal Victoria DLR (the walking route must avoid two very large buildings though, so will be longer)
- 520 metres from Custom House DLR (the walking route cannot go direct though)
I haven't done walking routes as the air photo obviously doesn't show the layout of the Air Line station. For comaparison, the walking routes from ExCeL are about - 260 metres - west entrance to Custom House
- 630 metres - west entrance to Royal Victoria
- 220 metres - east entrance to Prince Regent DLR
- 250 metres - east entrance to Prince Regent bus station
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Post by crusty54 on May 13, 2012 18:39:58 GMT
if it wasn't for hotels and bars in between
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Post by Deep Level on May 13, 2012 19:09:10 GMT
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Post by Chris M on May 14, 2012 13:19:31 GMT
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Post by rsdworker on May 16, 2012 11:45:23 GMT
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Post by snoggle on Jun 17, 2012 23:22:16 GMT
Testing is obviously coming to an end.
According to a tweet from Tom Edwards of BBC London the dangleway will open at midday on Thursday 28 June 2012. I imagine Boris will be doing his stuff in the morning.
Oyster fare is £3.20 (I assume on PAYG). £4.30 cash.
"Frequent flyers" pay £16 for 10 rides.
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Post by phillw48 on Jun 18, 2012 7:59:55 GMT
As reported on BBC London this morning. Also reported was it is the most expensive to build cable car in the world in terms of distance.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2012 21:04:09 GMT
Being opening day, I ventured down to the Victoria Docks take a look at it in operation after work. In the sunshine and blue skies the largely glass terminal and the elegant white twisting pylons looked great. I was surprised to see no queues. I had a prepay Oyster card so I just walked up to the barriers, which are similar to the wide access barriers on the Tube, and touched in.
Climbing up a set of stairs brings me to the level where you board and disembark the gondola as they move around slowly a bit like at the London Eye. Its a bright boarding/ disembarking area thanks to the sides being glazed. The gondolas can hold 10 people but there were only 2 others in the one I got into. They were already in the gondola as it arrived as they were doing a round trip from the O2 side.
Being a glorious clear sunny evening the views were great but since I had not actually planned to visit I was without my camera so have no pictures to share. Planes taking off at City Airport seem very close and you get to appreciate the Expanse of the Excel and the Millennium Dome. There were people visible on top of the dome enjoying the experience of a new attraction called "Up at the O2" where you can walk over the top of the O2 and enjoy the views from the viewing platform at the top.
The Olympic Stadium and Orbit were clearly visible as was the Thames Barrier and of course Canary Wharf which unfortunately blocks out most of the City of London. Its a very different kind of view than the London Eye as this it is very much a view of modern regenerated London rather than the Eye's more historic view and its a more dynamic and open view as you traverse laterally over a kilometre though the gondolas are not as big as the pods on the Eye and I was travelling in one that was only 30% full so I'm not sure what the experience would be if it were full.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2012 20:06:59 GMT
Unless I have missed it somewhere, can anyone say who built the cable cars/gondolas/cabins please?
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Oct 1, 2012 20:13:32 GMT
I *think* it's Doppelmayr.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2012 22:50:54 GMT
Many thanks. Much appreciated. |
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Post by mrfs42 on Oct 2, 2012 2:21:28 GMT
I *think* it's Doppelmayr. Yes. Double check with TP, but I think you're right. |
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Post by ducatisti on Oct 2, 2012 9:03:40 GMT
yes - Doppelmayr built the gondolas, control system, bull wheels etc.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2012 9:19:12 GMT
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, but my brother got some for me to day finally ;D, just waiting for them so that I can watermark and upload them 
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