Train in operation

New cable car 2026

What will be new?

Intermediate pylon

The approved intermediate entry and exit will also be retained for the new, higher intermediate pylon in the area of the current "Pylon 2". An attractive guest platform will make boarding and alighting a spectacular experience.

The greater cable tension and the greater freedom of the cabins to swing increase wind stability and the redundant drive system (integrated clearance) also improves the availability of the cable car.

The first pylon is no longer required as the second pylon is raised and the cable tension is increased. By eliminating pylon 1, massive avalanche protection can be dispensed with in this area and the landscape is enhanced. The disused pylon foundations will be dismantled, including those of the first cable car from 1935. The resulting pits will be backfilled and renaturalized.

The first construction work will already take place in 2025 during regular rail operations. The new foundations at the intermediate support will be concreted and anchored in the summer. This will require extensive construction site installation in the area of the current pylon 2.

Cabins

The new cabins with large panoramic windows and modern materials promise an exceptional travel experience. Although the cabin will be slightly larger, the transport capacity will remain the same as before at 85 passengers. This means that the space per passenger will be slightly larger, which will improve comfort.

Cable car technology

The new drive system in the bottom station consists of two main and two emergency drives, gears and brakes. In the event of a system failure, operation with a reduced payload is guaranteed at all times. Two new emergency power generators secure the electrical supply in the event of a power failure. Thanks to the full redundancy of the system, a return trip to the stations can be ensured in any case and a recovery train or recovery device can be dispensed with (integrated evacuation system).

A new, modern cable car control system will also be installed in the bottom station. Communication with the top station is via fiber optic cables embedded in the suspension cables.
The new cable car can also be operated unaccompanied. This means that longer or special operating times are possible without major personnel costs.

The four new suspension ropes are permanently tensioned in the top and bottom stations. The rope reserve is installed in the top station.

The new hauling rope is spliced endlessly. The trolleys are connected to the hauling rope using clamps. This means that no rope end fastenings are necessary and there is no need for safety brakes. By opening the clamps, it is possible to “park” both cabins in the bottom station. This can increase the availability of the lift in extreme weather situations, such as icing.

The haul rope is tensioned by a new tensioning weight in the mountain station.

Mountain and valley station

The mountain and valley stations will basically remain the same, but the waiting areas will be slightly modernized.

Material transportation will be carried out before the interruption of the cable car. The material is stored in the panorama hall and the waiting area at the summit, which is why the waiting room is temporarily relocated.

Schedule

2019 – 2022

  • Planning replacement of support 1 after avalanche event
  • Examination of various alternatives Complete replacement of the cable car
  • Elaboration of new construction project with summit entrance in current north cavern
  • Development of adapted project on existing cable route
  • Securing financing

2023

  • The planning approval procedure (PIP) for the modified project is submitted to the FOT
  • No objections are received during the public consultation period
  • In December, the Board of Directors approves the cost estimate

2024

  • Order PIP (building permit) by the Federal Office of Transport FOT
  • Concession granted for a further 40 years
  • Detailed planning, work tenders and first contract awards
  • Planning of employee solutions during interruption of operations

2025

  • Regular guest operation, sometimes special timetable due to material transportation
  • Rock work, anchoring and concrete work for the new foundations of the intermediate support in the area of the current “Pylon 2”
  • Rock removal to increase the swing clearance in front of the entrance to the mountain station
  • Waiting room for guests in the mountain station is relocated to a temporary facility
  • Demolition work in the wheel room of the mountain station
  • Anchoring and concrete work for the new suspension cable fastenings in the mountain station
  • Dismantling of the foundations of the old cable car from 1935 in the area of the current pylon 1

2026

  • Continuation of the preparatory work in the mountain station
  • Intensive transportation of materials and tools to the intermediate pylon and mountain station in April
  • Concrete work for the tensioning devices for the cable hoist in front of the bottom station in the area of the traffic circle
  • May to late fall: main phase of construction work in the bottom station, at the supports and in the top station, with interruption of operations
  • Goal: Official commissioning of the new cable car in late fall

2027

  • intensive dismantling in the mountain station and at the pylon locations
  • Official opening in spring

Technical data in comparison

Today

new cable car

Persons per cabin

85

85

Travel speed max.

8 m/s

8 m/s

Number of cable car pylons

2

1

pylon heights

55 m (pylon 1) / 25 m (pylon 2)

43 m

Peak power

767 kW

1‘006 kW

Diameter of suspension cables

47.5 mm

60 mm

Weight of suspension ropes

4 x ca. 30 t

4 x ca. 50 t

Diameter traction cable(s)

34 / 37.5 mm

42 mm

Weight of pull rope(s)

2 x ca. 10 t

1 x ca. 33 t

Max. rope force per track valley station

975 kN

2‘024 kN

Max. rope force per track top station

1‘281 kN

2‘518 kN

Max. track inclination

84.4 %

89.8%

Fiber optic cable: Number of fibers/carrier cable

0

45

Persons per cabin

Today

85

new cable car

85

Travel speed max.

Today

8 m/s

new cable car

8 m/s

Number of cable car pylons

Today

2

new cable car

1

pylon heights

Today

55 m (pylon 1) / 25 m (pylon 2)

new cable car

43 m

Peak power

Today

767 kW

new cable car

1‘006 kW

Diameter of suspension cables

Today

47.5 mm

new cable car

60 mm

Weight of suspension ropes

Today

4 x ca. 30 t

new cable car

4 x ca. 50 t

Diameter traction cable(s)

Today

34 / 37.5 mm

new cable car

42 mm

Weight of pull rope(s)

Today

2 x ca. 10 t

new cable car

1 x ca. 33 t

Max. rope force per track valley station

Today

975 kN

new cable car

2‘024 kN

Max. rope force per track top station

Today

1‘281 kN

new cable car

2‘518 kN

Max. track inclination

Today

84.4 %

new cable car

89.8%

Fiber optic cable: Number of fibers/carrier cable

Today

0

new cable car

45

Q&A

Why is a new cable car being built?

The Säntis cable car, which is still in operation today, was inaugurated on 6 April 1974 and has been continuously modernized ever since. It therefore seems too early to completely renew the cable car. Following an avalanche in 2019, which damaged the lower cable car pylon, pylon 1 had to be repaired to such an extent that the safety requirements were once again met. The Federal Office of Transport then issued a limited operating permit until the end of 2025 to allow sufficient time for the construction of a new pylon with comprehensive avalanche protection.
As the existing railroad would have required further investment in the medium term, the company began to consider a complete overhaul of the system. In an initial project, the cable car was to enter the existing north cavern of Swisscom Broadcast AG so that the interruption to operations would be as short as possible. However, an objection demanded that the building on the Säntis summit be examined for its worthiness of protection. This would have made planning considerably more difficult and would have made it impossible to complete the project within the current operating permit.
As a result, Säntis-Schwebebahn AG withdrew the original application and drew up an adapted project in 2023 under the name “Schwebebahn 2026”.

When does the cable car not run?

The suspension railroad will run as usual until spring 2026. As materials are already being transported in 2025, a special timetable will be used in some cases.

From May 2026 until late fall 2026, no guest operations will be possible. During this time, the summit can only be reached on foot or by helicopter.

Is the Säntisgipfel restaurant open during the construction phase?

During the railroad interruption (May to late fall 2026), the mountain station will be closed to guests and only accessible to construction workers and a few employees of the Säntis suspension railroad.

During this time, hikers can enjoy refreshments at the Alter Säntis mountain inn and the surrounding mountain inns .

Are the restaurants and the hotel on the Schwägalp open?

The two restaurants Schwägalp and Passhöhe as well as the three-star superior hotel “Säntis - das Hotel” will be available as usual during the construction phase.

Will there be the option of an intermediate exit again with the new cable car?

Yes, another exit option is planned at the intermediate support in the area of the current pylon 2. The intermediate exit is significantly higher and therefore even more spectacular.

Is the Schwägalp - Tierwies - Säntis hike possible in 2025/2026?

Although an extensive construction site installation in the area of the current pylon 2 will be necessary from summer 2025, the Tierwies-Säntis hiking trail will remain accessible. However, minor detours cannot be ruled out.

What does the project cost?

The total construction sum approved by the Board of Directors in December 2023 amounts to CHF 22.7 million, of which CHF 15.8 million is earmarked for the cable car technology. This does not include the costs for the interruption to operations.

Project partners

  • Logo Garaventa - Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH
  • Logo Schällibaum AG

Download of the visualizations

Here you can download a selection of visualizations of the new suspension railroad 2026. The following images may be used by the media for non-commercial publications. Please provide the following photo credits: ©Säntis-Schwebebahn AG

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