Bergbahnen Sorenberg: Cabins For New Brienzer Rothorn Cable Car Delivered

Two heavyweights on the way to Sörenberg. After a successful factory acceptance test at CWA Constructions AG in Olten, the brand new aerial tram cabins of the Brienzer Rothorn cable car were released for transport. A transport that brings with it many logistical challenges.

With considerable dimensions of L: 6.45m W: 3.35m H: 3.42m and a weight of approx. 3 tons, the cabins of the new cable car cannot be transported normally by car and trailer. Using a pneumatic crane and the necessary sensitivity, the first cabin was transported into the Sörenberg on Thursday, August 31, 2023. Cabin No. 2 will make its way to Sörenberg on Friday, September 8, 2023. We expect the red doppelganger to arrive at the valley station of the Rothorn cable car around 10 a.m.

Panorama perfection

Our new cabins are a real eye-catcher. They shine in beautiful red and can accommodate up to 80 guests. The attractive panoramic glazing provides even more views. The glazing extends from floor to ceiling and provides a view of the surrounding mountains. Anyone who would like to travel with the new train can look forward to the coming winter season. The Brienzer Rothorn cable car is scheduled to reopen on December 16, 2023.

About the Rothorn Retrofit project

A construction site at over 2000 m above sea level. M. comes with many challenges. But the hard-working workers around project manager Kilian Brand are making good progress with the construction of the new cable car. In the summer of 2022, the work on the supporting foundations of the Brienzer-Rothorn cable car was successfully carried out by the Gasser Felstechnik company. The railway was canceled in April 2023. Thanks to an exceptional crane design from the Imobersteg company, the crane parts could be flown to the difficult-to-access construction sites using a small helicopter. In collaboration with Garaventa AG, a special anchoring for the crane was designed specifically for the assembly of aerial tramway supports. With the crane, the dismantling and assembly of the supports went smoothly.

The mountain station will be renovated in spring 2024. In particular, these are the sanitary facilities, the catering and the production with the planned cinema in the former military bunker on the Brienz Rothorn. The cost framework for the Rothorn Retrofit project is around 22 million francs.

Facts Rothorn Retrofit

A new cable car from Sörenberg to the Brienzer Rothorn is the big goal. The challenging project has so far gone according to plan.
The crane from Imobersteg Krantechnik is designed so that it can be transported using a small helicopter. That means: Max. unit weights of 900kg.
80% of the craftsmen involved in the project are from the region.
The distance from the valley station to the mountain station is 2.7 km.
The construction of the new cable car costs 22 million francs.
December 16, 2023: Re-opening of the Brienzer Rothorn cable car
A suspension cable of the Brienzer Rothorn cable car contains glass fibers. In addition to its actual function, the rope is also used for communication with the mountain station.
There is space for 80 guests in the modern cabin, which was constructed by CWA Constructions SA Olten.
The new solar system on the roof of the valley station generates 35,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year.
The support cables weigh 40 tons. You overcome an altitude difference of over 1,000 meters. The new gondolas are expected to be installed at the beginning of October.

Technical data Garaventa AG