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Running the Thames cable car as a tourist attraction is a “fundamental fault” that stops Londoners from using it on a regular basis, a senior politician in the capital claimed today.

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the London Assembly, said the Emirates Air Line is hugely underused because it was not being run as “an integral form of public transport”.

The cable car, which crosses 90 metres above the Thames between the Royal Docks and Greenwich, opened in June 2012 in time for the Olympics.

In that early six-week period it recorded 674,515 journeys, with many people using it to reach sporting events. However, its use has plummeted and in the past six weeks 254,650 journeys were made, latest figures show.

In the week ending last Saturday, it carried 42,798 people — said to be nearly all tourists or visitors to London.The Air Line cost about £60 million to build and it is understood Transport for London has spent almost £1 million advertising it.

Ms Pidgeon said: “As soon as the Games ended the number of people who use it plummeted. Despite the huge amount of public money ploughed into the scheme and Transport for London spending a fortune on marketing, it can never escape the fundamental fault of being run as a tourist attraction and not a form of public transport.

“It is time the Mayor and TfL recognise it should run as an integral form of public transport which is affordable and attractive on a daily basis.”

Passengers can use Oyster or contactless for the trip at a price of £3.50 for a single. The regular cash fare is £4.50. In his election campaign, Mayor Sadiq Khan said he would consider closing the service to save cash, but it is now expected to continue until the contract ends in 2021 as it would prove too ex-pensive in penalties to do otherwise.

His spokesman said: “The Mayor has asked Transport for London to review all its business operations to cut waste.”

The cable car is expected to be part of the review.