Matterhorn Glacier Ride II Will Start Operating July 1, 2023
The countdown is on: On July 1, 2023, the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II will start operating. The new 3S cable car connects the Klein Matterhorn mountain station with the Testa Grigia valley station in Italy, thus enabling the highest border crossing in the Alps - the so-called Matterhorn Alpine Crossing.
With the generation project Matterhorn Alpine Crossing, the two destinations Zermatt and Breuil-Cervinia are moving even closer together. The new 3S Bahn Matterhorn Glacier Ride II leads from the Klein Matterhorn mountain station at 3,883 meters above sea level down to the Testa Grigia valley station at 3,458 meters above sea level. For the first time ever, guests can travel not only on skis and snowboards, but also with dry feet on this route from Italy to Switzerland - and vice versa. The new facility closes the last remaining gap between Zermatt and Breuil-Cervinia and turns the longstanding vision of the highest crossing of the Alps by cable car into reality.
Individual tourism and exclusivity
The Zermatt Bergbahnen are constantly setting new standards in the cable car industry and, as the industry leader, are innovative and visionary. CEO Markus Hasler is convinced: "The new connection between Italy and Switzerland further enhances the offer of the Zermatt Bergbahnen. The appropriate price strategy does not promote mass or transit tourism, but rather the experience for individual travelers.» Luggage transport will be offered from 2024 to make the journey across the Alps easy and carefree. Various activities await on the peaks, such as the SnowXperience Plateau Rosa adventure world around the Testa Grigia valley station or the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at the Klein Matterhorn mountain station.
Intense months lie ahead
In the next few weeks, the final concrete work on the valley station building will be completed and installation work will be carried out on the electronics. Work on the cable hoist has been underway since the beginning of February 2023. This is one of the most spectacular construction phases and takes about three months. The first cabins will then be delivered at the beginning of May 2023 and various assembly and commissioning work will follow before the new 3S cable car is ready for use.
