In-Depth Discussions On Cable Car Projects Across The Rhine. Mannheim, Ludwigshafen And Altrip In Focus

The Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Neckar GmbH (VRN GmbH) deepened its consideration of possible cable car connections across the Rhine in an internal workshop together with 26 local council members from Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Altrip.

After the publication of the VRN concept study “Potential and feasibility study for cable car systems in a network” there is great interest from the three municipalities and the Rhine-Palatinate district. VRN GmbH was therefore commissioned to further develop the implementation ideas for the Rhine crossing.

The workshop now invited technical discussion of the study results among the community representatives of all three municipalities involved and thus marks a further important step in the possible realization of the two cable car projects across the Rhine.

In their welcoming remarks, Mayor Dr. Volker Proffen, head of the public transport department for the city of Mannheim, and Dietmar Maier, head of the service offering at VRN GmbH, first emphasized the importance of the projects for regional mobility. “The Ludwigshafen – Mannheim and Mannheim – Altrip cable car connections have the potential to realize our vision of sustainable and efficient mobility across the Rhine,” emphasized Dietmar Maier.

As the workshop continued, Christian Wühl, Head of Planning & Offer at VRN GmbH, once again reminded the participants of the background of the cable car study and looked back at initial considerations from 2015/2016 about a possible cable car connection between Ludwigshafen and Mannheim. The main result of this was that a cable car should create new connections, since parallel connections to the existing public transport do not generate any significant increase in passengers.

Florian Schweiger, managing director of the Schweiger engineering firm, which also carried out the feasibility study for the Buga cable car, presented, among other things, various cable car systems and discussed their potential and limitations. The importance of creating building rights at the state level and the need for a cross-state solution for Rhine crossings were also discussed.

Next steps on the way to realization

The results of the workshop now form the basis for the next planning phases, which will include a detailed development of the projects and the clarification of the operator question.

For a possible cable car connection between Altrip and Mannheim, the corridor in question is largely clear, so that the approval and technical feasibility will be examined in the next step. The next steps for the possible temporary connection Mannheim – Ludwigshafen will be to determine the exact corridor, for which there are several approaches. The city of Mannheim has already commissioned VRN GmbH to carry out an in-depth investigation of both routes.

At the suggestion of VRN GmbH, the Mannheim-Ludwigshafen project should also be addressed in the Rhine-Neckar Mobility Pact and the focus should be on the three different options for a temporary cable car connection to provide relief during the bridge construction work.

In the search for new and sustainable mobility solutions, cable cars represent an exciting alternative. VRN GmbH now invited local council members from Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Altrip to an in-depth workshop on possible cable car connections across the Rhine.  

At the VRN Cable Car Day last year, experts discussed the opportunities and limitations of cable car systems. VRN GmbH now invited local council members from Mannheim, Ludwigshafen and Altrip to an in-depth workshop on possible cable car connections across the Rhine.