When you think of cable cars, snowy mountainous images of the French Alps, Switzerland and Austria immediately spring to mind.

With the populations of the world’s biggest cities certainly not getting any lower, transport is a primary concern of governments and councils of cities across the world.

London has never been shy of implementing pioneering ideas in almost all aspects of life, including transportation and infrastructure.

You may be wondering why a reference to cable cars may be significant in an article about city transportation, well in typical groundbreaking fashion, London has launched the Thames Cable Car, which has the capacity of carrying 2,500 guests every hour.

The cross-river route stretches between the ExCel Centre at the Royal Docks and the O2 Arena at Greenwich. Asides offering Londoners and visitors alike the chance to travel through London avoiding the often congested roads and busy Underground network, the Thames Cable Car, in elevating passengers 49 metres into the air, will provide sensational views of London’s breathtaking cityscape below.

Emirates Air Line is the company responsible for the £50 million cable car project and is excited about how the Cable Car will reinvent London transport.

As Tim Clark, director of Emirates Airlines said in a press statement:

“The Emirates Air Line will bridge people closer, enabling them to discover, connect and express their ideas about this diverse city through crossing its majestic river, providing an incredible travel experience for residents, commuters and visitors alike.”

Equally as enthusiastic about this innovative public transportation project in London is the capital’s mayor, who commented:

“This spectacular new addition to London’s skyline will provide a much needed new river crossing in the east of our great city.”

Prices for a seat on the Thames Cable Car are refreshingly low, with an adult Oyster Card holder ticket costing £3.20 and a return ticket costing £6.40. For non Oyster Card holders the 1.1 mile journey will set £4.20 for a single ticket. Whilst the under fives go free!