Cable car across the Thames

[Brogan]

Not sure if anyone's aware of this, but a cable car is currently being constructed across the Thames.

It will start in Royal Victoria Dock (50 metres from our apartment ) and finish just east of the Dome/O2.

Here's a computer simulation of it.

I've been taking some photos at various stages of the build.
Here are a few of them.


The actual structure will be built in the water.
Those concrete posts you can see are in about 10 metres if water and a further 10 metres into the ground to the bedrock.

The white framework being built just to the left, is a new glass pavilion, shaped like a crystal.
This is what it will look like when it's completed.

You can also see a render of it in the cable car video.

More information here: http://www.siemens.co.uk/en/news_press/index/news_archive/siemens-pavilion.htm

 

[Brogan]

Progress update.



I was looking forward to trying it out until I saw the height of the second tower

 

[ExtremeNinja]

London is awesome. Has anyone been through London Bridge, Blackfriars or Farringdon recently? The former East London Line is fantastic too. We've a way to go but we are finally starting to look like a modern European city again.

"

Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner​

That I love London so
Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner
That I think of her wherever I go

I get a funny feeling inside of me
When walking up and down
Maybe it's because I'm a Londoner
That I love London Town"​

 

[gethinceri]

Yes, I was in London this week, I've always found it stunning. I was on the DLR, how's that for a gentle rollercoaster? Love it!

 

[mjo]

Quirky, and it will provide great views of other parts of the city - I can't think of any other major city that has a cable car like this. And your house, Bro, will get a 'unique' selling feature.

 

[FB]

How can I put this? What a fucking waste of money! Yeah, that's it.

 

[Brogan]

A drop in the ocean compared to the rest of the Olympic budget - yes it's all part of that.
At least it is being part funded by the Emirates.

They're installing the cables today so I guess it won't be long before we start seeing cars.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Being a Londoner through and through, I'll spend my whole life living in this great city, I don't care how much they spend on it. The more, the better. I'm selfish too, by the way.

 

[Brogan]

A few more photos from the opposite view - apologies for the quality, I only had my phone with me was holding a wriggling toddler at the time

Our apartment is in the tall 20 storey building on the right in the third and fourth images.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

That looks cool. When is it open and do you think it will appear in the next James Bond movie?

 

[Brogan]

It's scheduled to be in operation this summer, in time for the olympics.

Whether it is or not is another matter, there looks to be a fair bit of work left to do.
I suspect it will be though as they've started working weekends and no doubt will start working late to make the deadline.

 

[Brogan]

They did the first real test today.
Ignore the rubbish filming, I didn't bother using a tripod/monopod.

 

[Brogan]

Found a few more videos, not filmed by me this time.

This second video has one of the largest cranes I've ever seen.

 

[FB]

I might have said this before but I'll say it again - do we really need something which starts where you aren't and takes you somewhere you don't want to be? How much money can politicians piss down the drain in these vanity projects?

 

[Brogan]

Onboard video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18080615

 

[ExtremeNinja]

Shard is looking close to completion now, too. They have pretty much all the glass in now and the cranes are depleting in numbers.

 

[the_roadie]

FB you can't imagine the amount of your money that politicians' vanity is costing you.
Don't even try, it'll make you sooooo unhappy.

 

[ExtremeNinja]

~Opens 29th of June and you CAN use Oyster card.

 

[Brogan]

Buggers opened it when we were away!
I was quite surprised to see it running today, considering how much was left to do when we left for Turkey a few weeks ago.

I was also surprised to see it stop running just after 9pm - I would have expected it to keep the same hours as the DLR.

Anyway, I'm planning to take a trip on it later this week so I'll upload a video*

(* Unless I get arrested for looking like a terrorist on a reconnaissance mission or something )

 

[GeoffP]

You been away Bro?