Bid for cable car to link 2012 Games venues imminent

A TfL map shows the cable car route

A planning application for a £25m cable car across the Thames will be submitted in a few weeks, BBC London has learned.

The project is intended to link 2012 Olympics venues. It will connect Greenwich and the Royal Docks, carrying up to 2,500 passengers an hour.

Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show a planning application is imminent.

Because it will be privately funded no definite commitment had previously been given.

The cable car is designed to cut journey times between the 02 Arena and the ExCel exhibition centre - both of which are Olympic locations.

'Unique addition'

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London's transport adviser, said: "Work is well under way ahead of the submission of a planning application to provide a cable car across the Thames.

"The mayor believes a cable car spanning our majestic river would provide a unique addition to the capital's sky line and proved a much needed boost to river crossings in the east of the city.

"We hope to able to make an announcement regarding a planning application this autumn and to be able to provide further details about third party funding by the end of the year."