Weekly Roundup « The Gondola Project

Weekly Roundup

28
Apr

2023

Weekly Roundup: Take to the Skies with Pikachu and Friends on Board the Singapore Cable Car

The Singapore Cable Car celebrates 50 years with Pokémon-themed cabins. The cabins’ exterior are decorated as red and white Poké Balls, and there are five different interior designs. The interior designs are each themed around popular Pokémon characters, such as Pikachu, Eevee, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Quaxly. Over the last 50 years, the gondola has had more than 60 million visitors.
Alternative funding will allow the Ebbw Vale Cableway in the United Kingdom to continue operating. The local council had included closing the funicular as part of their proposal to save £6.6 million, but external funds were secured from private funding. The system will continue to give access to education, work, leisure and local amenities.
Gondola cabins on the at an Australian resort are being used to publicize the talent of people with disabilities. The VOI fesch Art Prize is an annual competition and this year the theme was “Winter Happiness”. The work of the top 15 artists were selected to be displayed on cabins on the Rosskarbahn in Obergurgi.

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21
Apr

2023

Weekly Roundup: A New Era Begins for New Zealand’s Famous Monocable

The infamous four-seater “bubble cabins” of New Zealand’s Queenstown Skyline have completed their last journey up to the top of Bob’s Peak; soon they will be replaced by more spacious ten-seaters capable of ferrying up to 3,000 people per hour along the scenic ropeway. Image credits: “Skyline Queenstown Gondola” by Skyline Enterprises NZ, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Queenstown Skyline cabins take their last ride to be replaced by 10-seater cabins. The iconic New Zealand monocable was built in 1967 and was previously upgraded in 1987 in an effort to replace the “bubble cabins.” The new cabins will increase the capacity from 1000 people per hour (pph) to 3000 pph and are a part of a $200 million project.
Aberdeen Scotland’s council rules out public funding for cable car. Aberdeen developers have been considering adding a cable car to Granite City. They looked to Barcelona, London, La Paz, and others as examples of how cable cars can be integrated with a city and advance both transportation and tourism. However, the council voted against any public cash going toward the project.
Leitner-Poma of America and Skytrac set to build the largest American manufacturing facility in Tooele, Utah. The 130,000 square foot building represents a $27 million investment. Leitner-Poma aims to increase their American-made capabilities by producing all Skytrac parts and almost all of Leitner-Poma of America parts in the states.

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14
Apr

2023

Weekly Roundup: Afyonkarahisar’s Dream Nears Reality as Progress Continues on Turkish Cable Car Line

Afyonkarahisar Castle, a historical fortification located in Western Turkey, will soon be home to a cable car that will connect it to nearby Erdal Akar Park. Once the ropeway is complete, citizens and tourists alike will be able to take a scenic ride between the two points and enjoy a unique view of the city. Image credit: “Burgberg Afyonkarahisar 03” by Ingeborg Simon, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons.

Dursey Cable Car’s opening date has been postponed. The cable car had been set to open on Easter, but was delayed due to bad weather and sea conditions that make essential repairs challenging. The system was closed in March of 2022 to replace the towers and was supposed to reopen in November of 2022. Unfortunately, delays continue, and officials now say the system will be open to the public by early April. Once the new track ropes are installed, the system can be inspected. Once the system receives approval from the Commission for Railway Regulations, the system will be able to begin operation once again. See a related weekly roundup here.
The Afyonkarahisar Castle cable car in Turkey is under construction . The cable car will travel 585 meters from Akar Park to Karahisar Castle. The system will have two stations and eight cabins. The excavations, building foundations, and utilities have been completed, and the system is anticipated to open in August.
Summit Triple is to be replaced by Mountaineer Express at Attitash Mountain Resort in New Hampshire. Summit Triple did its last loop before retiring to be replaced by a high-speed quad supplied by Leitner-Poma. The new lift will increase the capacity from 1500 people per hour (pph) to 2400 pph. The Mountaineer Express will decrease the ride time from the previous 16-to-18-minute ride to 6 minutes.
Dominica will be building the world’s longest monocable. The 6.6 km monocable detachable gondola (MDG) will connect the world’s second-largest boiling lake to the capital city Roseau. The system will increase accessibility and job opportunities while preserving the island’s cultural and natural heritage. Doppelmayr will be constructing the project.

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07
Apr

2023

Weekly Roundup: ‘Mexicable 2 – Línea Verde,’ an Exciting New Chapter in Mexico’s Public Transit Story

Mexicable 2 – Línea Verde officially opened March 30. The Línea Verde fills a major gap in the Ecatepec de Morelos ropeway network that will consist of three interconnected cable car lines in the future. The 8.5-kilometer system has seven stations. The system begins at the Mexicable 1 – Línea Roja Hank Gonzalez station and ends at the subway station of Indios Verdes. The system has the capacity to move 3,000 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd) with 300 cabins.
The gondola project in Eastern Ireland is open to public consultation. The gondola connects Donard Park in New Castle to Northern Ireland’s highest mountain, Slieve Donard. Part of the project site is situated on land classified as a Special Area of Conservation which raises environmental concerns from the National Trust. The National Trust is pushing for a full environmental impact assessment of the project. If the £44 million project advances as planned, the system should be open in 2029.
At the Dodgers opening home game day, protesters against the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) set to tell fans that the Dodger Stadium Express (Express) is better for the community than the gondola. The Express is a free transit program for major events at the stadium. Buses will take ticket holders from either Union Station or Harbor Gateway Transit Center to the stadium. The Express bus restarted a few months after the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit’s (LA ART) draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was released. The gondola is viewed by opposition as intrusive and not a better solution to the Express bus. See a related Weekly Roundup here. SCJ Alliance is part of this project.

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31
Mar

2023

Weekly Roundup: High-Tech Gondolas On the Horizon for the Lone Star State

Plano, TX, is the first city to show interest in the autonomous gondolas pitched by the state’s Regional Transportation Council. These high-tech gondolas, if successfully completed, would to relieve traffic in the Lone Star State’s most congested and populated areas. Image: “DART Downtown Plano station” by Danazar, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Texan city of Plano is the first to show interest in the high-tech gondola pitched by Regional Transportation Council (RTC). Swyft Cities, the company behind the new gondola technology, is in search of a test site to set federal certification and regulatory standards. Plano has explored routes spanning eight miles, but the early test site will be smaller, spanning between two and three miles. Texan cities have until April 10 to apply to be considered for the test site. A previous Weekly Roundup (here) explains RTC and the plans that Swyft Cities has for the 21st-century gondola.
Whistler’s Fitzsimmons Express chairlift replacement is underway. The current four-seater chairlift is being deconstructed. A new high-speed quad will replace the old Fitzsimmons Express. The new lift will increase the capacity by 1450 skiers per hour.
An avalanche slid across State Highway 210, leaving skiers stranded. Skiers were ordered to shelter inside permanent structures from noon to 6:30 pm; unfortunately, poor road conditions resulted in vehicles bumper to bumper on the highway. This incident highlighted Utah Department of Transportation’s plan to build the gondola and how much quicker skiers could have made it home. There have been several instances in the winter where a gondola would have been safer, more reliable, and more efficient for people traveling along Little Cottonwood Canyon. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
To increase sustainable energy, Leitner has invented the Intelligent Heat Detector (IHD). IHD enables an automatic regulation of seat heating by detecting the surface of the seat and individually heating occupied seats. This new technology can be implemented into both new and existing installations.

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24
Mar

2023

Weekly Roundup: Proposed Upgrades to Taos Ski Valley Include New and Improved Transit Options

Improvements to the New Mexican resort set to include a brand new gondola line, two advanced chairlifts, additional trails and skiing areas, and upgrades to existing tourist, dining, and comfort facilities. Image credit: “Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico,” by Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Welsh government is to contribute £4 million for the Skyline Swansea. This is one of the largest investments into the tourism and hospitality sector for the Country of Wales. Skyline Enterprises wants the Skyline Swansea to connect the Hafod-Morfa Copperworks area to the top of Kilvey Hill, where there will be activities such as luge runs, zipline, sky swing, and trails. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
The Taos Ski Valley resort in New Mexico is awaiting approval for a new gondola. The draft environmental assessment for the project, as well as other proposed developments, is under review. The U.S. Forest Service has already approved the resort’s master plan. The gondola would connect the resort’s frontside main base with Kachina Basin to alleviate traffic congestion. Public comments close in early April, and construction for the gondola is anticipated to begin this summer. Other projects in the area are to replace two lifts with faster, higher-capacity lifts.
The Federal Mint Swissmint launched a new silver coin featuring the Klien Matterhorn cable car. The coin is part of the “Swiss special coins” brand to mark the construction of the new cable car between Zermatt and Italy. The coin has the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise mountain station and a modern 3S cabin.

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17
Mar

2023

Weekly Roundup: Discover the Highest Ski Lift in the World

The Aiguille du Midi, also sometimes known as the “Needle of the Mid-Day,” is home to the tallest and steepest ski lift in the world. It is popular not only with skiers, but tourists too – the ride features breathtaking panoramic views, and the upper station boasts terraces, viewing areas, a souvenir shop, and a cafe regarded as one of the highest restaurants in the world .

The city of Seoul plans to build a gondola across the Han River. The intention is to connect major leisure attractions and cultural sites on the river’s banks. While station locations have not yet been selected, there are four options currently being examined. The local government will start accepting construction proposals after doing initial environmental impact and technical feasibility studies. There is no timeline for the project.

The world’s highest ski lift is in one of the oldest resorts in France, Chamonix Mont-Blanc. The Aiguille du Midi cable car rises a total of 9,209 feet in just 2.3 miles. The system has three stations total, with the elevation for the lower, mid, and upper stations being 3,392 feet, 7,602 feet, and 12,395 feet, respectively. The journey from the mid station to the upper is the steepest vertical climb by any ski lift in the world. The system is not only used by skiers, but over the years has become a popular tourist attraction due to its beautiful panoramic views.

The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) for North Texas is looking for congested areas in select cities, hoping to build autonomous gondolas. RTC has requested cities to submit their most congested areas to study and ultimately select the first location for this new technology. The cabins are to be self-propelled, unlike traditional gondolas that are propelled by the haul rope. This application has yet to be built, and it is unknown when construction on the first will begin.

London has unveiled a new transit alternative to the Luton airport: the Luton Dart. The £290 million automated guided people mover takes the 30-minute journey down to 3 minutes, replacing a slow and infrequent shuttle. The Dart, or Direct Air-Rail Transit, carries 170 passengers in its four walkthrough cars. Fare will be £4.90 per adult, half price for children 5-15, and free for children under 5.

Weekly Roundup

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The Gondola Project

Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup: Take to the Skies with Pikachu and Friends on Board the Singapore Cable Car

Weekly Roundup: A New Era Begins for New Zealand’s Famous Monocable

Weekly Roundup: Afyonkarahisar’s Dream Nears Reality as Progress Continues on Turkish Cable Car Line

Weekly Roundup: ‘Mexicable 2 – Línea Verde,’ an Exciting New Chapter in Mexico’s Public Transit Story

Weekly Roundup: High-Tech Gondolas On the Horizon for the Lone Star State

Weekly Roundup: Proposed Upgrades to Taos Ski Valley Include New and Improved Transit Options

Weekly Roundup: Discover the Highest Ski Lift in the World

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