Schladming - Planai Gets Green Light For The 10 Seater Rohrmoos Gondola Lift
In the presence of 25 officials, experts and local residents, official approval for a new 10-person gondola from Schladming to Rohrmoos was granted on under the direction of the Ministry of Cableways. A few days earlier, at the Supervisory Board meeting of the Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen, there was unanimous approval for this important mountain railway connection, especially since the cable car concession for the current 2-seater chairlift would have finally expired at the end of 2025. The construction of the mountain station will start in autumn 2023, in December 2024 the new 10-seater gondola will start operating.
Since 2008 there have been considerations and efforts to renew the cable car up to Rohrmoos. 20 variant proposals - combined with a lot of discussion potential - were created and checked by experts. Above all, the routing through a densely populated residential area represented a major planning and conceptual challenge. Safety issues also had to be considered during the planning and many concerns and wishes had to be taken into account. Economic facts have also played an important role, as has the sensible integration of the various service providers, good connections to the Rohrmoos center, the ski school area, the Rohrmoos II 6-seater chairlift and the valley runs.
"It's done! The multi-year planning phase of this important connection to Rohrmoos was worth it and we are very happy about today's official approval. I would like to say a big thank you for the constructive cooperation, especially to the landowners for the route variant that has now been found. I would also like to thank the authorities and community representatives, experts and everyone who was involved in the planning of the new 10-seater gondola lift,” said Planai Managing Director Dir. Georg Bliem after the approval was granted. Schladming's Mayor Hermann Trinker is also pleased: "The new 10-seater gondola lift certainly means a major upgrade for the Hochwurzen ski mountain and is also a great enrichment for Schladming, especially for the Rohrmoos district".
Maximum passenger comfort - for the first time in the 4-mountain ski area: ski transport in the gondola
The new, state-of-the-art 10-seater gondola lift from the ropeway manufacturer Doppelmayr is designed with a capacity of 2,400 people per hour. 30 panoramic gondolas ensure the highest level of passenger comfort, and the equipment is stored in the mountain station. Other requirements such as safe transport of children are taken into account, as is taking alternative sports equipment with you. A premiere in the 4-mountain ski area is that the skis can be taken into the gondolas with the new lift and can also be parked there. This means that boarding and alighting is faster and, above all, easier, and passenger comfort is significantly increased, especially for families with small children.
Cable car project involves an investment volume of 13.5 million euros
The construction of the new 10-seater gondola will start in autumn 2023 with the construction of the mountain station. In 2024, work on the route will follow, as well as the conversion of the entire valley station area with a new lounge/bar, a large sports shop, improved entrances and exits including a lift and new cash desk areas, etc. The focus will be on contemporary architecture. The situation in front of the Planai West building is also to be significantly improved, especially with regard to the ski bus service. In addition, starting from the mountain station, there should be a pedestrian connection to the center of Rohrmoos.
The total project costs for the cable car areas - not including the conversion work at the Planai West valley station - amount to around EUR 13.5 million. Planned opening date is December 2024.
