Cable car hours could be cut due to low usage

London's cable car has had an average of just four contactless and Oyster journeys in each direction during its first hour of operation each day in the past year, prompting Transport for London (TfL) to propose reducing its opening hours.

The IFS-sponsored gondola currently opens from 07:00 GMT Monday to Friday, from 08:00 on Saturdays and from 09:00 on Sundays.

Under the proposals, services would start an hour later between Monday and Saturday, but continue to operate until 22:00 seven days a week.

"Operating a near empty service is neither environmentally nor financially sustainable," TfL said in a consultation document.

The number of users in the first hour rises to 20 in each direction if paper tickets are included.

Opened in time for the 2012 Olympics, the cable car has struggled to attract regular commuters with passenger figures declining over the last decade.

In a Freedom of Information request last year, TfL said it covered its operating costs and revealed a direct operating surplus (before capital renewals) of £2.6m.

Single fares for the service between North Greenwich in south-east London and Royal Docks in east London are currently £6 for adults and £3 for children aged between five and 15.

"These changes are part of our work to deliver better value for money and ensure customer safety by both matching services to current demand and enabling an additional maintenance window which will further improve the reliability of the service," TfL added.

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