Millennium Bridge Inclined Lift

The London Millennium Funicular railway is located in the City of London next to the northern end of the Millennium Bridge. It is also known as the Millennium Inclinator,^[1] the Millennium Bridge Inclinator^[2] and the Millennium Bridge Inclined Lift.^{[lower-alpha 1][3][4]} It was opened in December 2003 to allow pedestrians to surmount the steep slope (13.6°) of Peter's Hill from the riverside to the entrance to the Millennium Bridge without using the alternative flight of steps.^[5][6]

Location

The lower end of the funicular railway is located on Paul's Walk next to the Thames and the top end is located 26.85 metres (29.36 yd) further up Peter's Hill on the terrace which is level with the deck of the Millennium Bridge.^[5][6] It was primarily installed for use by those who cannot easily manage the steep steps, such as people with disabilities and parents with push chairs.^[7]

Stock

The railway car was powered by an electric traction engine, manufactured in Italy by Maspero Elevatori, with a speed of 0.5 metres per second (1.6 ft/s) and a maximum capacity of 0.7 metric tons (0.77 short tons; 0.69 long tons).^[5][6] However by 2010 the City of London Planning and Transportation Committee decided that the level of service was unacceptable, because the Millennium Funicular was frequently out of service due to mechanical breakdowns and vandalism. So the Committee agreed it would be replaced at a cost of up to £750,000 in time for the 2012 Summer Paralympics.^[7]

A major renovation project was undertaken in 2012, and the funicular was reopened in time to be used by people attending the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant of 3 June 2012 (which took place about a month before the Olympic Games). The new funicular was manufactured by Hütter Aufzuge of Hamburg, Germany, and installed by Axis Elevators.^[3]

Notes

1. As the Millennium Funicular has only one car, it is also classified as a special version of the funicular called an inclined lift or inclined elevator (IanVisits 2010).

1. City of London Surveyor 2010.
2. City of London staff 2012.
3. Dunbar & Boardman staff 2012.
4. Sematic Group staff 2012.
5. Tom @ Tired of London 2010.
6. Hows 2003.
7. Bloomfield 2010.

See also

• List of funicular railways

References

• Bloomfield, Ruth (19 November 2010), "Millennium Bridge throws another wobbly as 'erratic' disabled lift must have £750,000 replacement", London Evening Standard, retrieved April 2013
• City of London staff (18 June 2012), Streets and Walkways Sub (Planning and Transportation) Committee Monday, 18th June, 2012 11.15 am, City of London, retrieved April 2013
• City of London Surveyor (16 November 2010), Millennium Inclinator (PDF), City of London, retrieved 12 April 2013 — Report outlining the need for repair or replacement of the funicular
• Dunbar & Boardman staff (18 October 2012), The Millennium Bridge Inclined Lift, Dunbar and Boardman, retrieved April 2013
• Hows, Mark (5 December 2003), London Millennium Funicular, Hows.org.uk, retrieved 2013-04-05
• IanVisits (20 November 2010), Taking a trip in London’s only Funicular railway
• Sematic Group staff (2012), Millennium Bridge Inclined Lift, Sematic Elevator Products (Sematic Group), retrieved April 2013
• Tom @ Tired of London (4 October 2010), Ride the London Millennium Funicular, Tired of London, Tired of Life, retrieved April 2013

External links

• benobve (28 November 2012), London Millennium Funicular Modernized, youtube.com, retrieved April 2013. A video of a descent and an ascent using the funicular.

Coordinates: 51°30′39″N 0°05′55″W / 51.510899°N 0.098490715°W