The Gondola Project

30
Jun

2023

Weekly Roundup: More Tourism Could be Coming to the Mountains of Morne, Courtesy of a New Cableway

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The Mountains of Morne could soon be home to an ambitious new project that would bring some form of cable-propelled transit to the Northern Ireland mountain range. This proposed project is expected to bring in an influx of tourists and to allow them to take a scenic, 1km gondola ride through the mountains up to a newly constructed visitor’s center. Image credits to Dieglop, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Cannon Mountain, a part of the Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire, receives an $18 million budget to upgrade its aerial tramway. While they had originally hoped for $25 million, stakeholders still believe that the $18 million will be able to cover all the needed changes by reusing some of the existing parts. Currently, they are planning to change out the cabins and cabin compatibility machinery for the aerial tram, but not the cables and overall structural components. While some advocated for the system to be replaced by a cheaper gondola, the history of the tramway won out; it is aimed to reopen 2025.
A new cable car has been proposed for the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland as part of a £44 million ($56 million USD) new building project. The gondola is expected to ferry 350 thousand people a year from Donard Park up to the newly built visitor center at Thomas Quarry. The cable car is expected to be 1 km long and have a vertical distance of 230m. The project has received some skepticism about the environmental and visual impacts while others consider the project’s tourism generation and economic value. It is hoped that planning permission will be obtained by 2026 and construction finished by 2029.
A new cable car is coming to Georgetown, Malaysia. The project has a proposed starting investment of RM245 million ($52.4 million USD) by Hartasuma, a rail services company and future owner, and is to be built by Doppelmayr. It is expected to have a total of 43 cabins, 15 towers, and a capacity of 1000 passengers per hour. It will have a max speed of 6 meters per second and take 10 minutes to journey from the bottom station to the top. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow emphasized that the project would also have low noise pollution and run off of electrical power to answer environmentalist concerns.
Big Sky’s new tram cars have been unveiled in Montana. The multi-year renovations on the tram have swapped the old 15-person cabins for much larger 75-person ones. As a part of the project, the top terminal is also being upgraded to include a panoramic glass viewing platform. Capacity is not yet given, however the mountain plans to change daily capacity day by day according to “weather, snow quality and terrain accessibility.”

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23
Jun

2023

Weekly Roundup: A New Way to See Seoul’s Skyline

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An exciting new project is soon to begin in Seoul, South Korea: a gondola and skywalk intended to relieve congestion and better serve both locals and tourists seeking to travel between the city’s botanical garden and the park at the peak of Namsan. Image credit to Ken Eckert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A new gondola project has been announced in Seoul, South Korea to enhance access to Namsan. The system will connect a botanical garden to the peak of Namsan with 25 10-person cabins and travel 4 to 5 meters per second. The project, which also includes a skywalk, is estimated to cost 40 billion won ($31.2 million USD). The city government hopes to break ground in September next year, and have the project finished in November of 2025. The 800 meter long system is expected to relieve the high demand and wait time for the buses and cable cars that currently serve the area.
Renovations are afoot at Canyons Village in Utah. The Red Pine Gondola is getting new cabins, which will be ready for use come June 30^th, right as the resort opens for summer. In June, Red Pine Gondola will have 29 cabins, but 26 more are planned to be added in September. The retiring cabins will be auctioned away at charity events. On the same mountain, Vail resorts has recently sealed a development agreement with Canyons Village Management Association (CVMA) for constructing Sunrise Gondola, a 27 million dollar, 10 person gondola to replace the current Sunrise lift. CVMA will provide 9 million dollars to the project.
The Alcarrizos Cable Car opens for commercial operation. The monocable detachable gondola (MDG) is expected to be a major price saver for locals, as it only costs 35 Dominican pesos, the equivalent of 64 US cents to ride. Already the cable car has seen a total of 750 thousand visitors since its opening on June 11^th. The system is linked into the modern integrated transportation system and reduces travel time, transportation cost, and increases accessibility.
Ajloun Cable Car received a good turnout opening day in Amman, Jordan. The MDG stretches 2.5 kilometers from Ajloun Castle to the Ajloun development area. Moving at a little over 4 meters per second the 40 cabins take about 10 minutes to get up to the top. Pricing is JD 4 for locals ($5.64 USD) and JD 8 for foreigners ($11.28 USD).

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16
Jun

2023

Weekly Roundup: Look Up, Down, and All-Around with the Snowbird Tram’s New Glass Flooring and Cabin-Top Balconies

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The aerial trams at Snowbird Mountain, Utah, are anticipating a set of exciting upgrades this coming summer: in-ground windows, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a rooftop balcony, the first of its kind in the United States. Guests will be able to ride outside of the cabin to take in the sights in without the obstruction of glass. Image credit to VeggieGarden, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A 2022 exploratory study for a cable car in the city of Vauhan was recently released to the public. It details plans for a possible link between the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, Canada’s Wonderland and Vaughan Mills. The tricable detachable gondola (TDG) would connect to the already existing bus system, would run along the center of Jane street, and would be capable of carrying 5500 passengers per hour per direction (pphpd). An alternative route was also proposed along the centerline of Highway 400 in case the primary route was unworkable, however this would have required additional stations to handle the bends in the alternate route. SCJ Alliance was part of this project.
In Bhairahawa, Nepal, a new cable car has entered operation. The 24 cabin, 2 kilometer system connects the city of Butwal to the Basantapur hilltop with a capacity of 6000 passengers a day. The cable car is expected to help promote religious and historical places in the region, as it will connect to the recently rededicated temple of Kamakhya Devi. In addition to the temple, the top of the mountain is expected to include a five-star hotel, a children’s park, Buddhist Monastery and viewing tower. It is only 18 to 20 degrees Celsius (about 68 degrees Fahrenheit) at the top of the hill, but can get up to 40 degrees (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the valley at the hottest part of the day.
The trams on Snowbird Mt, Utah are getting a brand-new makeover this summer. The trams are being fitted with new glass flooring, allowing passengers to see the ground far beneath their feet. However, that’s not all, as the trams are also being outfitted with balconies, allowing passengers to view the surrounding beauty without any glass obstructions.
The owners of Stowe Mt, Vail Resorts, and Smuggs’ owner Bill Stritlzer recently went public with joint plans for a gondola between the two resorts. This previously confidential project has reportedly been in the works for 6 years now. It calls for a 9 tower, half-mile long gondola transporting 1200 pphpd, allowing for easy travel between the resorts. To assuage the concerns of environmentalists, a total of 164 acres of woodland has been offered up for conservation.
Peak to Peak still to open despite hard winter damage. The Peak to Peak Gondola connecting Whistler to Blackcomb suffered ice damage over winter. However, last Wednesday it was announced that the gondola would open as expected, but with a slight delay. The mountain made sure to thank its maintenance team, crediting their incredible work to meet the safety requirements.

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09
Jun

2023

Weekly Roundup: Scenic Gondola to Come to Southern India

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The Nilgiris Hills of southern India, famous for their misty steppes and lush flora and fauna, could soon be home to a gondola system which would take locals and tourist alike on a sky trip across the idyllic scenery. Whatever form this system takes, it is destined to bring new economic opportunity to the region. Image credit to Yogiroxxx, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

A cable car has been proposed in Amsterdam to help connect the north and south halves of the city. It would depart from the Hemknoop metro station, and then turn left over the river to Softwareweg. Currently, it is expected to move 900 passengers a day, with a future capacity of 4,500 passengers a day once a bridge is constructed over the IJ River.
The Dursey cable car will reopen to the public today, after being closed for over a year. It serves as the primary means of transportation between the small island and the rest of Ireland and operates continuously from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM. It’s also open to tourists, adult tickets cost €10 a person, and half that for kids. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
From the towering heights of Mount Bohemia, colloquially known as Boho, comes news of a chairlift upgrade. The mountain’s current 3-seater chair lift is aging and often is only loaded with 2 skiers for safety reasons. They have contracted Skytrac, which readers may know is a subsidiary of Leitner-Poma. Once the upgrades are finished, it is expected that capacity will increase by 50%. Additionally, the mountain has raised the possibility of a chairlift on the backside of the mountain, in the “Haunted Valley”.
In the Nilgiris hills, on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in South India, a feasibility study is underway for a scenic cable car system. The system type is unclear, but could potentially be a monocable detachable gondola (MDG) or a pulsed gondola, with a design capacity of 340 passengers per hour. Planners expect the project to bring jobs and income to the local area, with employment opportunities for cab drivers, shopkeepers, and guides, as well as other commercial ventures.
The Wasatch Front Regional Council has approved the long-term transportation plan presented by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). The council had to approve the entire plan, although some members disapproved of the gondola in an effort to ensure the first two phases of the plan were implemented, which includes increased public bus transportation and tolling. Despite the council’s approval, local resistance to the project remains fierce, with many locals preferring a less ambitious plan such as expanding the bus system. The project is not out of the proverbial woods yet, as the proposed gondola plan could undergo more modifications before it is released later this year by UDOT. See a related Weekly Roundup here.

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Uncategorized / Weekly Roundup

26
May

2023

Weekly Roundup: Sightseeing Gondola or Year-Round Resort? Two Visions of the Future of the Canadian Cascades

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The province of British Columbia must soon decide on which project will soon make its home among the peaks near Bridal Falls and Mt. Cheam: a world-class, sightseeing gondola or an all-season ski resort. Though both projects would bring a new wave of tourism to the region, each has their own advantages and disadvantages. Image credit to Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Two competing development proposals on the mountains above Chilliwack, Canada, are awaiting approval from the province. One of the developments is to build a sightseeing gondola, the Cascade Skyline Gondola Project, and the other is an all-season mountain resort, Bridal Veil Mountain Resort. The resort project could be Canada’s first Indigenous-led resort with the participation of the Stó:lō Nation. However, the Chem First Nation supports the Cascade Skyline Gondola and opposed the Bridal Veil Mountain Resort due to the larger footprint of the development in comparison. Unfortunately, the two project require similar forested land above the Bridal Veil Falls to Mt Cheam’s peak. At this time, there is no clear understanding of which project will be selected and when.
The Red Pine Gondola’s faulty cabin doors will soon be a distant memory as 55 new cabins arrive at Park City Mountain in Utah. A total of 60 cabins will be retired and auctioned off to support multiple organizations. Of the 55 cabins, 29 will be installed before their summer operation commences, and the remaining cabins will be installed in September. The upgraded cabins are part of the resort’s capital improvements which originally included upgrading other lifts; however, permitting issues resulted in the projects to be delayed.
The Nandankanan Zoological Park will soon be inaugurating the Nandankanan Ropeway. The system was designed with a unique artistic vision incorporating local flora and fauna while blending into the natural landscape with cabin exteriors finished with a wood façade. The 628-meter system is a pulsed gondola that moves 400 people per hour in 12 six-person cabins.

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Uncategorized / Weekly Roundup

19
May

2023

Weekly Roundup: Ireland’s Sole Cable Car Soon to Return to Service

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The destructive Storm Barra knocked Ireland’s pride and joy, the Dursey Island cable car, out of commission during March of last year. Now, repairs to the cableway are nearly complete, and soon visitors will once again be able to ride the ropes to the idyllic isle. Image credit to Fabian Walden (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr.

If the Burnaby Mountain Gondola project goes as planned, construction could begin in 2026. The projected timeline was outlined in Infrastructure BC’s major public infrastructure projects list that notifies about potential upcoming procurement opportunities. For the gondola project specifically, the procurement process for a design and construction contractor could begin in 2025. The project is currently completing the business case and working on funding to continue advancing the project. See a related Weekly Roundup here. SCJ Alliance, the parent company of the Gondola Project, has been retained to provide gondola expertise for this project.
The retired gondola cabins from the Skyline have been sold or given away. A total of 15 cabins were sold in an auction that raised $103,000. That money is being donated to two different organizations, Branches Charitable Trust and the Whakaipu Wilding Control Group. A cabin was given to Skyline Queenstown’s best customer, 21-year-old Louise, who has been riding the system since she was a toddler. The $250 million redevelopment project is still in the works. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
The Pakistani city of Hyderabad is considering cable cars for part of their public transit. The planning is being led by multiple public agencies to find options to strengthen public transit in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way. Currently there is no specific project but planning efforts to integrate cable cars and light rail transit (LRT) with the existing railway system.
The modifications to the Dursey cable car are almost complete. The system still needs to undergo a load test, which requires the system to be loaded to its maximum capacity and test all brakes, switches, etc. Once the load test and detailed inspection are completed the system will just need to wait for approval to operate from the Commission for Railway Regulation. See a related Weekly Roundup here.

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12
May

2023

Weekly Roundup: A Proposed Ski Resort and Chondola System to Come to Valdez, AK

Post by Gondola Project

This new ski area, called East Peak, hopes to build a unique kind of aerial transit for its patrons: a chondola, that is, a combination chairlift-gondola. The hybrid will feature both traditional chairs for skiers, as well as cabins for pedestrians, allowing the line to stay open as a year-round attraction. Image credit: “Columbia Peak near Valdez” by Gusjer, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Burgberg cable car in Bad Harzburg has been refurbished. After major modifications, the 1929 cable car reopened. The system, which is the oldest transportation method in the Harz Mountains, has a new hydraulic speed and braking system, new engine and new controls. The renovations cost 1 million euros.
A rendered video shows the journey of the proposed Swansea gondola. The video shows the entire trip and clearly shows the proposed development on top of Kilvey Hill. The video was intended to address misconceptions about the project, such as the visual impact being less intrusive than anticipated. The project is still awaiting approval from Swansea’s planning committee. See a related Weekly Roundup here.
The state of Alaska has given preliminary approval for a new ski area in the city of Valdez. The popular fishing and oil city has become a great heli-skiing destination. The proposed ski resort, East Peak, hopes to build a 3-mile chondola, a system that combines chairlift and gondola cabins. The project is intended to be a year-round attraction. Approval is anticipated for later this month, and although the developer has already spent 1 million dollars, there is still much more work to be done.

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