Schilthornbahn 20xx Million-dollar Project: Added Value Remains In The Region
With the construction of the SCHILTHORNBAHN 20XX, Schilthornbahn AG is realizing a generational project. The work is awarded almost exclusively to Swiss partners. A large part of it goes to locally and regionally based companies. The tourism company guarantees an important contribution to social, economic and ecological sustainability.
Construction will take place on the Schilthorn from the valley floor to the summit by 2026: In addition to the construction of three new cable cars, the overall SCHILTHORNBAHN 20XX project also includes the new construction of all associated stations. A 100 million project that represents a masterpiece in many respects: New technologies, difficult assembly conditions as well as exposed and space-limited locations continually present the implementing companies with challenges. The added value generated by all of this work remains in Switzerland - and even largely in the Bernese Oberland and the region.
The largest order goes to the Garaventa company from Goldau
The largest order for cable car technology was awarded to the Swiss company Garaventa in Goldau SZ. Around 45 million Swiss francs will go to the traditional company, which has been building cable cars all over the world for over 100 years. With the steepest aerial cableway in the world between Stechelberg and Mürren as well as the innovative Funifor technology on sections 2 and 3, the cable car company will achieve new innovative milestones. With Schindler AG from Ebikon LU for the escalators and passenger lifts and Gasser Felstechnik AG from Lungern OW as the market-leading specialist company in rock technology, two other renowned Swiss companies were commissioned for shell construction and finishing work.
Local and regional partners included
Other orders were largely awarded regionally: Brügger Architekten AG and Theiler Ingenieure AG, based in Thun and Zweisimmen, respectively, are responsible for the planning. The builder of the Stechelberg station, Frutiger AG, and U. Hauenstein Heiz Lüftung Plumbing AG are also located in the gateway to the Bernese Oberland. However, most of the contracts went directly to the Interlaken-Oberhasli district: Ghelma Baubetriebe AG from Meiringen are building the Birg and Schilthorn stations, while Gerber+Troxler Bau AG from Bönigen is building the Mürren station and - together with Gasser Felstechnik AG - the foundations of the Build supports. Brawand Zimmerei AG from Grindelwald is responsible for all wood and steel construction work. The electronic orders are shared between Seiler AG from Bönigen, Elektro Hunziker AG from Thun and Aeschimann Automationssysteme AG and Elektro Brunner AG from Interlaken. The local company Marcel Fischer Grindelwald was allowed to install the new heating system. With Kolb+Walther AG, which has a location in Mürren, the added value from sanitary work remains in the village.
Cable car cabins from the neighboring country
Only one centerpiece of the project, the new cable car cabins, will not be produced in Switzerland. The supplier and manufacturer of the vehicles is Carvatech from Oberweis in Upper Austria. As one of the leading cable car cabin manufacturers, the company was able to impress with its innovative, design-oriented lightweight aluminum construction technology and first-class quality. Carvatech has been part of the Doppelmayr/Garaventa group of companies since October 2022.
Schilthornbahn 20XX
The Schilthornbahn 20XX project envisages a classic aerial tramway between Stechelberg and Mürren with a capacity of 800 people per hour. The freight and luggage logistics on this route are to be fully automated. Above Mürren, Funifor cable cars will connect the Birg and Schilthorn stations. The Funifor system impresses with its high wind stability and enables compact station construction. A uniform architectural concept was developed for the new station buildings together with the Federal Office of Culture, the cantonal monument preservation department and the Bernese Heritage Department.
