Emirates Air Line for London Olympics 2012 Features Steel

The most expensive cable car system in the world is built for the London Olympics 2012.

The London Olympics 2012 is expected to bring in 10,500 athletes, 8.8 million sold tickets, 37,000 accredited and non-accredited media and all this does not even include the Paralympic Games.  Out of these numbers, an obvious, large dilemma amongst the Olympics Committee started to form.  How is London going to transport spectators back and forth between specific London Olympics and Paralympics’ arenas?  The solution would not be cheap or easy but it had to be done.  Vehicles are not permitted to pass between locations unless they are part of a pre-approved VIP group so what about the rest of the masses?  You do have the underground transportation but it would not be enough.  Thus, the creation of the Emirates Air Line was born.

The Emirates Air Line is the world’s most expensive cable car system spanning across the Thames River in the Eastern part of the city.  The cable system has two towers weighing over several hundred tons each.  For instance, the south tower alone, which is the larger of the two, is made up of 6,500 steel pieces and it weighs approximately 750 tons.

The cable cars can transport around 2,500 people every hour.  Each cable car departs every 30 seconds.  This saves negative impact on pollution and decreases traffic issues from developing further.  To put it into perspective, Emirates Air Line cable system is the equivalent to 30 buses.

Emirates Air Line paid $57 million in sponsorship money to fund the project.  The price for the transport has not been fully decided yet.  City officials estimate the cost of a fare will equal the same amount as a boat ride fare, $8.00.

To find out more about the benefits of building and designing with stainless steel and nickel alloys, please call National Specialty Alloys today.

Olympics 2012 Presents the London Aquatic Center

The London Aquatic Center by Zaha Hadid is built with a steel roof that bends, twists and contracts in response to the weather conditions outside.

The entire world is ready to watch the Summer Olympics unfold and without hesitation I can honestly say the swimming events are by far my favorite.  This year the event will be held at the new, impressive London Olympics Aquatic Center.

This massive structure was designed by Zaha Hadid.  It is being described as an iconic structure that will be present and used in London even after the Olympics games.  The design was created with waves and water movement in mind.  The unique style of it is already being highlighted in world renowned architectural journals and exhibited in the infamous global media coverage for the London Olympics 2012.

The Aquatic Center holds 17,500 cheering Olympic fans at time.  It will host water polo, swimming, diving and synchronized swimming.  There is also a drying area for competitors.

Protecting the sporting events and fans is a wave-like steel roof.

Introducing the London Aquatic Center Steel Roof

The colossal roof alone is a remarkable sight to see.  It consists of a 30m steel truss weighing over 70 tons located at the southern wall of the roof.  This truss connects to 10 other steel trusses, which are broken down into 4 sections covering up to 120m across before reaching the two northern roof supports.

What separates this roof from past aquatic venues is its capability to expand, twist and contract in response to the London weather.

This is only the first of many blogs National Specialty Alloys will cover regarding London’s Olympic structures.

To find out more about stainless steel and nickel alloy bars, call us today!