Positive Response To Second Edition Of Cable Car World At Messe Essen

The positive response to the second edition of Cable Car World at Messe Essen makes it clear: More and more municipalities see urban cable cars in local public transport as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional infrastructure. From June 4 to 5, 2024, the congress fair was able to expand its status as an innovative specialist event for mobility solutions at the plus-one level and make a significant contribution to networking decision-makers and driving forward urban cable car projects. Over 600 trade fair and congress participants from 21 countries - including delegations from Brazil and Sierra Leone as well as the C40 Cities network and the International Organization for Cable Cars OITAF - found out about technologies, products and services from 51 exhibitors and 17 partners from ten nations. Attractions included the Mobility Lab with Science Wall and City Lab as well as a cable car model and the Cable Car Congress.

The need for information at Cable Car World 2024 was high. Both the topic of "urban cable cars" itself and specific aspects such as funding and legal framework conditions met with great interest from the specialist audience. "Cable Car World 2024 has set a new pillar. Since the last trade fair, urban cable cars have experienced an enormous boost. What is already established practice in transport planning in other parts of the world is gaining more and more momentum in Germany and Europe. Many visitors have come back to concretize their plans," summarizes Dominik Berndt, Managing Director of Cable Car World GmbH and partner of the congress fair. "The topic has also become an integral part of the product development of cable car manufacturers. We are pleased that the industry has accepted Cable Car World as a new presentation platform and, together with Messe Essen, wants to develop it into an international industry meeting place," adds Oliver P. Kuhrt, Managing Director of Messe Essen GmbH.

The design of the cabins, for example, has been adapted to the needs of public transport. One of the three manufacturers on the market brought a cable car gondola to Essen that will make its maiden voyage in Paris in 2025 on a 4.5-kilometer route. Another market leader presented a cabin that is already in successful operation in Mexico City and transports people on a route of around eleven kilometers.

Learning from other cities around the world

Practical examples were one of the main focuses of the integrated Cable Car Congress. Among the guests was the operator of the largest public transport cable car network in the world, "Mi Teleférico", who reported on his experiences in La Paz, Bolivia. Sierra Leone traveled to Cable Car World with a whole delegation. In the capital Freetown, a cable car would mean economic and social progress due to the new mobility, Freetown's mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE made clear in her presentation.

Interactive trade fair concept was well received

The Cable Car World 2024 brought the topic closer to visitors through various formats. The core of the trade fair was the Mobility Lab powered by Bartholet & Leitner. The communication area was often used for discussions with experts from consulting and planning or in-depth workshops. It was also the starting point for guided tours. Particular attention was paid to the City Lab, which was supported by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. Bogotá, Bonn, Duisburg, Freetown, Herne, Munich, Oberhausen, Offenbach, Toulouse and the Rhein-Neckar transport association presented their ongoing cable car projects. For example, a very concrete connection across the Rhine in Bonn is being planned. The project meets the criteria for public funding and therefore has the best chance of being implemented. Herne is also relying on an urban cable car. In the Ruhr area city, a new technology quarter is to be connected to the train station in Wanne-Eickel.

The Science Wall showed the current state of research with participation from the TU Vienna, TH Ingolstadt, Universidad de los Andes, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, OTH Regensburg, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana and the Mobility Department of the State Capital of Munich.

Save the date!

Those interested can already note the new date in their calendar: The next Cable Car World and the integrated Cable Car Congress will take place on June 9 and 10, 2026 at the Essen Exhibition Center.