New Construction Of The Santis Cable Car Going Well

The first guests are expected to travel to the Säntis summit with the new cable car at the end of 2026.

What will be new?

Intermediate support

The tried and tested intermediate entry and exit will also be retained in the new, higher intermediate support in the area of today's "Support 2". An attractive guest platform will make entry and exit a spectacular experience.

The greater rope tension and the greater freedom of swing of the cabins increase wind stability and the redundant drive system (integrated clearance) also improves the availability of the cable car.

The first support is no longer needed due to the height of the second support and the increased cable tension. By eliminating support 1, massive avalanche protection is no longer required in this area and the landscape is improved. The disused support foundations are being dismantled, including those of the first railway from 1935. The resulting pits are being filled in and renaturalized.

The first construction work will take place in 2025 during regular rail operations. In the summer, the new foundations at the intermediate support will be concreted and anchored. This requires extensive construction site installation in the area of today's support 2.

Cabins

The new cabins with large panoramic windows and modern materials promise an exceptional travel experience. The cabin will be slightly larger, but the transport capacity will remain the same as before at 85 people. This means that the area per passenger will be slightly larger, which improves comfort.

Cable car technology

The new drive system in the valley station consists of two main and two emergency drives, gears and brakes. If one system fails, operation with a reduced payload is guaranteed at all times. Two new emergency power generators ensure the power supply in the event of a power failure. The full redundancy of the system means that a return trip to the stations can be guaranteed in any case and a rescue railway or rescue facility is not required (integrated evacuation system).

A new, modern cable car control system will also be installed in the valley station. Communication with the mountain station takes place via fiber optic cables embedded in the supporting cables.

The new cable car can also be operated unattended. This means that longer or special operating times are possible without major personnel expenditure.

The four new support cables will be permanently installed in the mountain and valley stations. The reserve cable will be installed in the mountain station.

The new traction cable is spliced endlessly. The carriages are connected to the traction cable by clamps. This means that no cable end fastenings are necessary and safety brakes are not required. By opening the clamps, it is possible to "park" both cabins in the valley station. This can increase the availability of the cable car in extreme weather situations, such as icing.

The traction cable is tensioned by a new tension weight in the mountain station.

Mountain and valley station

The mountain and valley stations remain basically the same, but the waiting areas will be slightly modernized.

Material transports are already being carried out before the railway is closed. The material is stored in the panorama hall and the waiting area on the summit, which is why the waiting room is being temporarily relocated.

schedule

2019 – 2022

Planning replacement of support 1 after avalanche event
Examination of various alternatives Complete replacement of the railway
Development of a new building project with summit entrance in today's north cavern
Development of an adapted project on an existing cable route
securing financing

2023

The planning approval procedure (PGV) for the adapted project is submitted to the BAV
No objections are received during the public consultation period
In December, the Board of Directors approves the cost estimate

2024

Order PGV (building permit) by the Federal Office of Transport BAV
Obtaining concession for another 40 years
Detailed planning, job tenders and first contract awards
Planning employee solutions during business interruption

2025

Regular guest operation, partly special timetable due to material transport
Rock works, anchoring and concrete work for the new foundations of the intermediate support in the area of today's "Support 2"
Rock removal to increase the freedom of movement before entering the mountain station
Waiting room for guests in mountain station is moved to a temporary location
Demolition work in the wheel room of the mountain station
Anchoring and concrete work for the new suspension cable fastenings in the mountain station
Dismantling of the foundations of the old railway from 1935 in the area of today's support 1

2026

Continuation of the preparatory work in the mountain station
intensive material and tool transport to intermediate support and mountain station in April
Concrete work for the guy wires for the cable pull in front of the valley station in the area of the roundabout
May to late autumn: main phase of construction work in the valley station, at the supports and in the mountain station, with interruption of operations
Goal: Official commissioning of the new railway in late autumn

2027