Transport for London (TfL) London’s most unconventional form of transport is literally skyrocketing.
At 300 feet above the Thames, Emirates Air Line had its busiest day in over three years last week as more and more Londoners fancy a ride on the cable car that doubles as a tourist attraction.
Around 9,000 passengers made the jump over the Thames in East London on Saturday (June 5th) and took advantage of the good weather to take a look over the capital.
During the journey, which takes around 10 minutes, you can enjoy sweeping views of The O2, Canary Wharf, City Airport, Olympic Park, the Thames Barrier and the ExCel Center.
Traffic enthusiasts know it as the only place where you can see buses, the DLR, Crossrail, National Rail, an airport and a helipad, and other cable cars at the same time.
A total of 43,268 passengers traveled over the week – that’s a 170 percent increase over the week before a half-time boost was indicated. As one of the places with the most Instagram effects in the capital, its appeal to young people with social media knowledge increases its appeal.
That same week, TikToks of Sunset went viral on the cable car. Videos tagged with the hashtag #emiratescablecars have garnered a staggering 5.3 million views to date. A total of 7.4 million views were recorded for video related to the crossing connection.
A TikTok video alone that shows a preview of the ride has now been seen by 1.4 million people.
Earlier passenger numbers also seem to correlate with TikTok numbers. In April, several TikToks of the cable car appeared with around one million views and within a few days of the video’s publication, the cable car had its highest usage of the year to date (69,704 in one week).
The Emirates Air Line runs from Greenwich Peninsula (near The O2 and North Greenwich bus / tube station) to the Royal Victoria DLR.
(Image: TfL)
Despite this viral success, consistency is an issue as long-term average performance has been around 15,000 passengers per week since reopening in May 2020. By comparison, New York’s Roosevelt Island Tramway (which, like the Emirates Air Line, is actually a cable car), averages around 50,000 passengers a week.
As a transport solution, the cable car still has a long way to go. Its chances will improve as the Elizabeth Line opens to the nearby Customs House in 2022 and more businesses return / move into premises on the Greenwich Peninsula.
Here at MyLondon we do our best to ensure you get the latest news, reviews and features from your area.
With our free e-mail newsletter you can now keep yourself up to date on the areas that are important to you.
The East London newsletter appears twice a day – at 7am and 4pm – and sends you the latest stories straight to your inbox.
From Barking to Bow, Canning Town to Canary Wharf, we make sure you get the best, every day.
To subscribe to the West London newsletter, simply follow this link and select the newsletter that suits you.
And to really personalize your messaging experience on the go, you can download our premium free apps for iPhone and Android. Find out more here.
One of the newer highlights of the cable car is the possibility of making a “day out”. Right below it is now a water sports center called WakeUp Docklands, where you can go wakeboarding and paddleboarding.
Manager Jon Byrne said, “The placement of our facility under the cable car presents our water sports to an audience that does not necessarily know that these sports can be practiced in London find us. “
We have created a Facebook group for people who travel on London’s bus, train, tube and tube and DLR services.
We’ll keep you updated on the latest news regarding your daily commute, as well as on weekends.
We will also inform you in advance about construction sites, railway works or closures that you should know about or whether there are problems in the urban subway network.
Join the group here.
You can travel on Emirates Air Line using TikTok or Instagram, a one-way flight typically costs £ 4 and as part of the London transport network, all you have to do is use your Oystercard.
Is there another transportation social media hotspot out there? Email to callum.marius@reachplc.com
