London Unveils Cable Car Plans

How cool is this? With just two years to go before the 2012 Olympic (and Paraolympic) Games, the city of London has announced plans for a new $38 million cable car system over the Thames.

The privately funded cable car would reportedly transport up to 2,500 people an hour in a five-minute crossing between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. The 164-foot high project, which spans the river, would enable a quicker link between the O2 Arena and the ExCeL Centre—both Olympic venues.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “A cable car spanning the majestic Thames would not only provide a unique and pioneering addition to London’s skyline, but also offer a serene and joyful journey across the river...It would also provide a much needed enhancement of cross river options to the east of the city.”

The cable car has been a successful mode of transport in a number of cities, including Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and Barcelona.

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