London TravelWatch has welcomed the new Emirates Airline which opened yesterday and this week’s Government announcement that it is backing the Silvertown tunnel, bringing its construction a step closer.

Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch commented: ‘We have been following the progress of the Emirates Airline closely throughout the construction period and are delighted that the service has opened in time for The Olympics.  The service offers a quick new way to get from Greenwich to the EXCEL Arena, which is likely to bring tourists into east London and open up opportunities for people who work at either of the locations it serves.  We also welcome the fact that Oyster will be accepted on the Airline and that frequent users will benefit from a reduced price.’

The passenger watchdog for transport users in and around London also supports the proposed new Silvertown tunnel under the Thames which the Government this week announced as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, subject to it having high frequency public transport services running through it, with an appropriate level of priority.

Sharon Grant continued: ‘We have supported this project, which would provide an important link from Greenwich to Silvertown, for some time, most recently in our transport users’ priorities for the Mayoral election.  The project will help to reduce congestion and encourage investment in this important and growing part of London.  We hope that Londoners will also benefit from complementary measures to improve cycling, walking and public transport in the areas surrounding the tunnel link, and on approach roads where additional car traffic might be attracted.’

Read our Transport Users’ Priorities for the 2012-2016 Mayoral term

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 For more information, please contact the London TravelWatch press office on 020 7726 9953 or 07734 055494.